Facebook and Cisco to work with businesses to expand Free Wi-Fi use

just in time to leverage the deluge of shoppers soon to hit the malls, Cisco has teamed up with Facebook to provide customers free WiFi access along with targeted promotions and ads. The just-announced Connected Mobile Experiences for Facebook Wi-Fi service lets you hop online at participating retail locations by simply connecting to the local network and checking in on Facebook. From there, you'll be able to view information about the retailer, including special promotions and other news. On the business side, the benefits are obvious: more check-ins means more brand recognition, and companies will get plenty of anonymous customer data to analyze.
For shoppers, on the other hand, it's free WiFi and a targeted ad experience, complete with potential perks.

Cisco and the social network ran a pilot of
the program in Toronto last month, and the service is currently up and running at two Bloomin' Brands Bonefish Grill restaurants in the US. Expect a much wider rollout soon, though; according to Cisco's Sujai Hajela, Connected Mobile Experiences will be available across some of the world's top brands in retail, hospitality and other markets...
Facebook's Wi-Fi service also helps it forge closer relationships with corporations by providing the businesses anonymous demographic data about Facebook users coming through their doors.
Facebook is not funding the Wi-Fi effort, and merchants would pay for the network equipment and broadband costs...
Earlier this year, Google announced plans to bring free wireless Internet access to 7,000 Starbucks Corp cafes across the United States.
As part of that deal, Google will also help develop a version of the Starbucks Digital Network, putting it in a strong position to offer targeted advertising and promote the music and other media the coffee retailer sells.