Many cafes and coffee shops are offerring free WiFi Internet access to their customers. Although there may not be posted signs saying Internet access is for customers only, it would seem be to common sense of fair play that you purchase something from the cafe if you are using their WiFi access. Apparantly, some people are not. And for those who do, some are staying too many hours too long taking up valuable customer table space.

This is not a recent problem. Even way back in 2005, an author of an article wrote "many of these patrons will camp six to eight hours--and not buy anything. This seemed astounding to me, but she [store owner] said that it was typical, not unusual."^[1]

In 2006, Steven Krolak writes in VirtualCoffee.com article that there is definitely an change in atmosphere and customer base in a wired cafe where sometimes the freelance workforce spends most of their day. He says "I was almost afraid to chat with the owner, lest I break the furrowed-brow solemnity of people concentrating so hard on their emails, spreadsheets, term papers, novels, haiku poems, or internet shopping binges."^[2]

In 2007, Michigan man was arrested for using a cafe's WiFi from his nearby parked car.^[3]

In 2008, Rohrs' House of Fine Teas and Coffees starts charging for electrical services. If you want to plug in your laptop, you have to pay for it. Signs says "Theft of electrical service is prohibited".^[5]

And during the economic downturn of 2009, some coffee shops are banning laptops (at least during peak rush hours).^[4]

This problem is not limited only to coffee shops; other similar establishments such as bookstores, bakeries, hotels, etc that offers free WiFi is also experiencing this problem. For example, read this blog by Magnation magazine store.

Free WiFi access at cafes are a privilege, and not a right. Cafes and coffee houses do not need to offer free internet access. They are running a business. They only offer free WiFi access when it makes business sense. When it no longer makes business sense, they may pull the plug on free WiFi.

Some cafes are limiting the use of laptops during rush hours, some cafes are enforcing purchases by providing WiFi access code, and some stopped offering free WiFi altogether. Here are some solutions that some cafe owners have come up with to combat the problem...

• Un-named coffee shop posts signs encouraging laptop users to give up seat during rush^[2]
  
• Naidre's coffee shop says no laptop allowed between 11am to 2pm weekdays. Longer banned period of 10am to 3pm on weekends.^[4]
  
• Coffeeshop Victrola turns off Wi-Fi on Weekends^[1].
• Cafe Grumpy bans laptops all together.^[7]
  

Starbucks Coffee, the number 1 specialty coffee retailer in the world⁸ with more than 16,000 stores in at least 49 countries, has been the coffee business for a long time (since 1971)⁹. Surely they have come up with a solution to this problem. And in fact they have.

Starbucks has a policy that seems fair for both customer and coffee house -- available at the time of this writing to U.S. based stores that has WiFi (which is over 7000 stores in the U.S.)

When you pop open your laptop at a Starbucks, your laptop will detect a WiFi internet connection. When you open up your browser, It will only allow access to the page that explains the Internet policy. If you then have the login access code, then you can surf freely.

You can use Starbucks' free Internet access if you purchase a Starbucks card, which you can use there or at any other Starbucks store to purchase Starbuck's coffee or other products. And in return, you get access to their free WiFi access -- but only one session per day up to a maximum of two hours during that session. Of course, you can not just buy a Starbucks card once and then continue to use their Internet for months and years without making another purchase. If you haven't used your Starbucks card within the last 30 days, then no internet access. "Using the card" means you either make a purchase with the card or if you recharge the card by adding money to it. Starbucks is smart.

Did you know? Chelsea Clinton (daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) was seen at an Manhattan Starbucks on a laptop (pictures here).^[6]

Like Starbucks, Peets Coffee also offers free WiFi for two hours at a time.   You get a code from the barista when you purchase your coffee or other item.  When you connect to the internet, a Peets page give you a prompt to enter the code.  The code is good for 2 hours.^[ref]

McDonald's who have been trying to take some of Starbuck's market by offering McCafe drinks is now following Starbuck's lead by announcing that they will be offering free WiFi starting in 2010.^[ref]

[1] Coffeeshop Turns off Wi-Fi on Weekends
[2] Let Them Eat WiFi
[3] Michigan man arrested for using cafe's free WiFi from his car
[4] No More Perks: Coffee Shops Plull the Plug on Laptop Users
[5] Charge for electrical service
[6] Chelsea Clinton at Starbucks on Laptop
[7] NYC coffee-shop office is endangered as small cafes start putting restrictions on laptop use.
[8] Hoover's listing of Starbucks Coffee
[9] Wikipedia's listing of Starbucks Coffee