Nokia trials free wifi

Nokia is to trial free wifi for London London - Arabstoday The company said that it could offer an increasing number of hotspots, many of which will be based around old phoneboxes owned by its partner Spectrum Interactive, if the trial is successful. The approach could also be mimicked in other cities around the world in the future. Users will not be required to provide any personal details, but will have to agree to terms and conditions the first time they use the service. Access to the web will be unrestricted, but each hotspot will initially be limited to 20mbps, and no single user will be offered more than 1mbps. Simon Alberga, executive chairman of operator Spectrum, said that companies such as Macdonald’s and Pret A Manger had changed public perceptions of wifi by offering it free in their cafes. He said the free service from Nokia would “fill a much-needed niche between 3G mobile internet and home broadband”. The connections will accept any device, including tablets and laptops. Nokia’s mapping technology will also be offered to all devices so that it is easier to locate the hotspots. Spectrum’s main business is currently operating wifi hotspots in hotels, airports and shopping centres. Like BT, however, it is also now able to utilise its increasingly redundant network of payphones to house wifi hotspot equipment. The initial 26 hotspots in London will be centred on Oxford Street, but will include train stations such as Victoria. BT and O2 also offer networks of hotspots, but currently the require more personal data before allowing users to log on. Nokia last week launched its first phones to use the Windows Phone operating system, which it hopes will revitalise its fortunes after suffering at the hands of Google Android and the Apple iPhone.