Chelsea in New York is to benefit from free public Wi-Fi.
Towns and cities boasting free Wi-Fi areas could provide an excellent opportunity for mobile advertisers looking to improve their customer reach.
Such developments not only allow marketers to communicate with local residents, but also with those visiting or holidaying in the region.
One location introducing free Wi-Fi is Chelsea in New York, where Google is implementing a service whereby users can take advantage of the largest Wi-Fi network in the city, Mobile Marketer reports.
It is hoped the move will provide additional support to the community and help push the city forward as a major centre in the digital world.
Greater penetration through mobile phones and smartphones is enabling people to access the web while on the move, with free Wi-Fi likely to play a crucial role in speeding up this process.
David Staas, president at advertising firm JiWire in San Francisco, explained public Wi-Fi networks have increased markedly in both size and number in recent times, with quarter three of 2012 witnessing worldwide growth of 4.8 per cent from quarter two’s figures.
In addition, an annual escalation of 19.2 per cent was reported during the three-month period when judged against quarter four 2011′s statistics.
Mr Staas stated: “We believe it will continue to grow and become a necessary commodity in major city buildings, airports, restaurants/cafes and venues across the country.
“Consumer demand for free, high speed, on-the-go internet connections is growing rapidly as mobile devices continue to increase and the number of public hotspots expands.”
The industry figure noted using Wi-Fi to access the internet has become the most popular method for those hoping to browse the web while on the move – a finding that has been demonstrated by numerous pieces of industry research, such as JiWire’s Q3 Insights report.
Last month, the BIO Agency revealed more than 140 million Americans are spending up to $50 (£31) a month on mobile shopping, with this money used to purchase apps, games, music and e-books via their phone or tablet.
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