Consumers Still Don’t Understand Wi-Fi Potential

In-Stat, a market research firm, released a report stating that consumers still don’t understand the potential of Wi-Fi:

“Consumer electronics vendors have a challenge to educate consumers about Wi-Fi and to overcome the perception that Wi-Fi is simply a data networking technology,” In-Stat analyst Norm Bogen said in a statement. “In-Stat believes the benefits to consumers of Wi-Fi connectivity in consumer electronics devices are significant enough to build a major market segment over the next five years.”

Those of you who are readers of this blog and supporters of Community Wireless groups know that the potential for Wi-Fi lies in its ability to break down barriers between the people living in a local community. It is a fundamentally social technology, especially when used in public spaces. NYCwireless has worked hard to spread this view, especially through the events we hold at our parks, like Spectropolis.

I think its important for all of us that support Community Wireless to work on educating the general public.