ICM - Leeds Design Agency

I think that this is a business problem as well. I know I'm a sales person and so see things like this in economic terms, but BT's business plan is based around their broadband strategy to a large extent. Therefore, they need a way to prevent people just perceiving the internet as being free, which they will if people continue to use hotspots. This is why I think their idea is great, because instead of trying to stop people using other people's connections they are embracing the concept and making money still.

If everyone used other people's broadband and all the ISPs lost money, then that would be detrimental to business and the economy etc.

Posted by Tasha on Friday 5th of October 2007 at 12:21pm

Someone has to be paying for the connection, so ISPs will still get their money from one source or another but I think regardless of BTs business reasoning, they've side-stepped the question, because you can't really steal something you've already paid for.

So I'm curious to know though whether using (in a responsible, non abusive way)access that someone else has paid for *should* count as theft. If you've paid for a connection at home, but happen to be outside someone else's house is it wrong for you to check your email over their wireless line?
Or does it depend on whether you let people use your connection? Or even on whether you pay for a connection?

Posted by Siân on Tuesday 9th of October 2007 at 9:33am

Asking people to use (someone else's) internet in a responsible, non-abusive way? I'd be interested to see how that would be policed - one man's 'responsible' is another man's 'donkey lingerie fetish'!

Seriously, if I've paid for a meal in a restaurant, can I pinch some chips off another table on my way to the bathroom?

Posted by Richard on Tuesday 9th of October 2007 at 10:40am

If the diners at that table are still eating then it's probably not a good idea. But if they've finished and left and the table simply hasn't been cleared yet, where's the harm? The person who bought them doesn't need them.

Posted by Siân on Thursday 11th of October 2007 at 10:50am

Well nobody's having my internet!
I turn my router off when not sat at the mac at home, is this not the simple answer for those that don't want others using their web access?

It's better for the environment too! Everyone wins :)

Posted by Richard on Thursday 11th of October 2007 at 10:55am

You wouldn't pinch chips out of courtesy, maybe it should be the same with the internet.

In response to 'the ISPs will get their money from one source of another', this isn't how it works. They will have worked out how many customers they need paying what amount to not only run the service, but run the company as well. This is why BT are moving ahead of their competitors by taking into account how people will expect to receive their internet.

Posted by Tasha on Thursday 11th of October 2007 at 5:08pm

it's the same as illegal downloading of music. it might not be a physical theft but it's still wrong. the ramifications are felt further than just the immediate theft. users bandwidth gets caned, their address gets logged if they go to unsavoury sites etc.

what gives anyone the right to use something they haven't paid for? and why do we need to be able to access wifi anywhere at anytime? i doubt anyone who steals bandwidth or network space is actually doing anything important, or they'd pay for it. just wait till you get home for pete's sake.

Posted by phil on Thursday 11th of October 2007 at 5:12pm