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I saw this on slashdot and found it pretty intersting.
Apprarenlty McDonalds is launching a pilot program that gives you one hour of Internet access with each Extra Value Meal ordered. Additional hours can be purchased for $3 (or another meal)
The full story is here:
http://my.aol.com/news/news_story.ps...31100094938107
Do any of you guys know how do they control how long you have access for?
My guess is that the phone cord is hooked up to a timer and once an hours up ur kicked off.
but i'm not sure
It's most likely a leasing issue. They probably assign you an IP address which expires after 1 hour.
I think the idea is a lot better than Starbucks' (where you have to pay an outrageous monthly fee). I just hope the "unannounced California town" is going to be San Diego. :-)
AJ
Great - another keyboard to get ketchup on.
:D
What I find odd is that you would assume McDonald's would want you out of there ASAP as you are taking up space for other customers. Are they changing their focus to be slightly more relaxing environment?
would the people that could afford to have a notebook computer and an hour off work really choose to go eat at McD's?? Hell, i can't afford that and I still choose to go to more expensive fast food places because McD's food is substandard, small portions, greasy, and bland.
Or maybe they're hoping that this will attract these customers?? THey'd have to completely rework their menu, and cooking practices to get me to go back, let alone be seen wasting my day in there with my laptop when i could be at work getting paid.
Good point!
I'm not a really big fan of McDonald's either, but sometimes I just want to grab some quick food and their Chicken McNuggets are pretty good (in my opinion). Although I wouldn't spend an hour there on the Internet, I would definately use the time to read the paper online or something like that, which I would otherwise do while I'm at home when I'd rather be relaxing.
AJ
Well, McD's has an interesting theory...I mean, a) it's going to bring more people b) Those more people are going to be people with money. c) They can use their own laptop's
I think they're on the right track, but what about the security level?
-Daniel
I was thinking about the security level also- will your new starup screen be the golden arches????
jxrry59 raises a good point about security.
This move seems to be marketed towards the business man on his lunch break type person, but how many companies are using wireless technologies? Even more importantly, how many companies will like the idea that their laptops (with their information on them) are connecting to a network they have no control over? Someone with some knowledge could walk in, order a meal and spend his hour trying to exploit some vulnerabilites on some laptops in an attempt to get their hands on some corporate "secrets".
It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of companies began creating new policies prohibiting their employess to take advantage of such services.
they used to do it in scotland until little kidies were viewing pages with porn ads on them and so they had to shut it down. they did block porn sites but warez sites with porn ads still came through winging poms did what they did best winged and it got shut down i wouldnt be supprised if it went down the same path in the us
rioter
I see overcrowded MCds filled with 1337 hax0rs, like something out of the movie "Hackers" sitting around yelling "I 0wn j00000" and carrying on, running lame scripts and such to get free food... Ack. It would take all of 2 weeks before mcds cries.
Just one thing. . . "Would you like DSL with that, For just .49 cent's more you can upgrade that connection to our T1?" Hee Hee. . .and are they going to provide tech support?
McDonalds is doing this as a ploy to boost their earnings. They've been hurting badly lately, and there's threat of closing down chains. I think this is a last minute thought, and a last ditch attempt at getting anyone in the seats.
Of course... recently wasn't it they just had announced that they actually had a loss for the first time since the place opened? I can understand it, it's all coming clear now. They are trying to appeal to all the business people who leave work on their lunch break and try to get out. But who likes to be disconnected from the "real world" these days? They are appealing to everyone who likes the Internet and wants to be connected, so why not just jump on the band wagon? And think, $3 an hour (times) 50 users a day (times) 5 (times) 4 (equales) $1000 a month. That's well worth a cable Internet connection right, plus a little more? Which isn't even including the weekends and such (and is assuming some people actually stay for a little longer than the first free hour).
But either way I still see it bringing more business even if people just use the first "free" hour when they buy their meals. I mean come on, I would do something like that. Especially since I wouldn't have to drive all over the place to go get food then take it home to play online. I would just hook up my PDA right there and chat with people and watch my TV across the net as I ate, saves gas.. etc.
Lol, don't ask, it just hit me after I was sitting here reading techtech's post. I think it makes more sense in my head then what I'm typing.
Heh, I read the topic of this thread and laughed so hard I snorted. McDonals offers internet access with a happy meal. NOW THAT IS FUNNY. Sounds like you'll now get twice the fat ass with your purchase.
the account went to a company called 5g. A relatively well known wireless company. It works about the same as the cards you get in a hotel for their wireless access. They give you a card, and cd for the software, and log you in for an hours worth of time on your card. Simple as that. They are essentially like pre paid phone cards...but for wireless...
It's only a question of WHEN will this get hacked. MC'ds is holding the account with 5g for atleast 6 months according to what I read. It is going in chicago, Somewhere in Cali, and NYC. They want to get all the numbers over 6 months..and decide if its worth it.
maybe that clears some things up for people..
Sadly many more than understand how to secure wireless technologies. We now get wireless laptops as standard, yet no-one yet has thought through what that actually means for the securing policy.Quote:
Algaen wrote: but how many companies are using wireless technologies?
Should hope so too. However I think another issue which will usurp the "is it safe" issue will be the "do I really want to allow my staff to spend a full hour or more at lunch sitting in McDonalds and is this going to be used as another definition of telecommuting" (she says, writing code in her pyjamas at home <G>).Quote:
It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of companies began creating new policies prohibiting their employess to take advantage of such services.
Anyway, I reckon it'll be the staff that take it down quicker than anything if this site http://www.mwr.org.uk/ is any judge.
Rachel