Every Korean Gets Wi-Fi. For Free.

• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-03-01 04:59
  [Image: http://img.gawkerassets.com/post/9/2012/02/kotakueastoverlayfinal_18.png]

  
  
  

  On February 28, LG U+, the mobile and telecommunications subsidiary of one of Korea's largest conglomerates, has made it possible for anybody living in South Korea to access free Wi-Fi services, regardless of carrier subscription.
  
  All you have to do is register for an ID with LG U+ and you can connect to LG U+'s own "Free_U+zone." While LG U+ has tested free Wi-Fi in the past, the focus on universal Wi-Fi, no matter the subscription plan, is an especially nice touch.
  
  The way that this business works is that users can connect to Wi-Fi for one hour by sitting through a 15-second commercial. When the user stays on for more than an hour, another 15 second clip will play automatically. That's not a bad trade-off.
  
  We'll see how other mobile services in Korea will try to combat or fold under this bold move by the LG Group, but combined with Korea's lightning fast internet speeds, let's file this one under another reason why living in South Korea is great.

  
  
  http://kotaku.com/5889204/every-korean-gets-wi+fi-for-free
  
  *Looks at North America*
  Damn you capitalism
• ZazieTheBeast wrote on 2012-03-01 05:11
  sounds cool but is it capitalism's fault or the fact that south korea is small
  
  only see this working in north america if each individual state finances it them selves
• Kingofrunes wrote on 2012-03-01 05:28
  I can see that model working in America. It's a good source of advertising and companies can pay the providers for the advertising and in return they get a potential customer.
  
  Companies spend billions on advertising as it is. Get millions of Americans looking at your ad and you could get a lot of it.
• RebeccaBlack wrote on 2012-03-01 06:32
  I totally misread this as Wii Fit.
  
  This is pretty neat~ Some local communities in the US already do this, but it would be wonderful to see it expand.
• TheKartheus wrote on 2012-03-01 06:44

  Quote from ZazieTheBeast;791925:

  sounds cool but is it capitalism's fault or the fact that south korea is small
  
  only see this working in north america if each individual state finances it them selves

  
  
  Pretty much this. Korea is ridiculously small comparatively to the U.S. You could fit ~7 South Koreas inside Texas alone.
• Osayidan wrote on 2012-03-01 17:50
  A lot of people would argue that this is impossible because north america is too huge.
  You don't need free wifi in the middle of nowhere with a population of 3 farmers and a cow. Same for fast (and cheap and unlimited) 100 meg+ connections. You do individual cities that have high populations. If you treat NY city like a small south korea for example, you could get things like this done there.
  
  ISPs really need to start considering this if they plan to survive. The demand for such things will do nothing but increase over the next 10 years and if the "big players" can't provide it they will be phased out by emerging competition like those small ISPs offering gig connections in limited areas.
• ValkyrieHamster wrote on 2012-03-02 04:36
  Everytime someone talks about free wifi, I think of this comic x3
  
  

  [Image: http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/52b24444-145e-491f-afc5-f9fe4adbe203/uploadedartwork/450X450/8f7a165a-62d6-4be2-ae96-66d6b4a11fc2.jpg]
• Cucurbita wrote on 2012-03-02 04:42
  I wish they could just put working, moderate speed wifi in cities.
  
  Just like, where-ever there is a city with enough people in it, throw wifi in there so that people could at least look up some basic information.
• Chockeh wrote on 2012-03-02 08:32
  I rather have faster internet here before getting things like free wi-fi.