The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: Free Wi-Fi on way to becoming standard of service

Is free Wi-Fi the way forward for hot spots? It sounds "very 1997" but more and more venues are actually seeing this strategy work.

I'm still not sure what I think of the "commercial but free" Wi-Fi offerings. When I'm travelling any hotel who gives me free broadband (wired or not) has an advantage over one that (over-) charges for it. But I simply can't see for example a coffe shop make enough money long term from added sales of cookies and refills to profit from their Wi-Fi investment. But if it works, great!