JiWire offers ad-supported Wi-Fi for iPhone, iPod touch

Wireless advertising network JiWire has announced that it will offer iPhone and iPod touch free Wi-Fi Internet access in select locations in exchange for viewing a JiWire-supplied ad. JiWire plans to introduce service to iPhone and iPod touch owners selected Wi-Fi hot spots in premium restaurants, cafes, hotels, and other high-traffic locations (including New York's La Guardia and JFK airports) as an extension of the company's "Ads for Access" program.

The first clients to serve up Wi-Fi advertising to iPhone and iPod touch owners under the program will include financial services firm Charles Schwab and premium cable network HBO.

JiWire's advertising network currently encompasses more than 100,000 Wi-Fi hot spots, and the company's Ads for Access program has been running in selected Wi-Fi hotspots. Typically, Ads for Access advertisements are full video presentations lasting 30 seconds or more. In mid-2007, JiWire announced a partnership with Microsoft to deliver advertisements over municipal Wi-Fi networks; however, most of those networks are now being scaled back or scrapped, leaving the future of the partnership in doubt. JiWire also operates a directory of more than 150,000 verified Wi-Fi hot spots, and offers a version for the iPhone.

To continue reading, register here and become an Insider. You'll get free access to premium content from CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World. See more Insider content or sign in.

Wireless advertising network JiWire has announced that it will offer iPhone and iPod touch free Wi-Fi Internet access in select locations in exchange for viewing a JiWire-supplied ad. JiWire plans to introduce service to iPhone and iPod touch owners selected Wi-Fi hot spots in premium restaurants, cafes, hotels, and other high-traffic locations (including New York's La Guardia and JFK airports) as an extension of the company's "Ads for Access" program.

The first clients to serve up Wi-Fi advertising to iPhone and iPod touch owners under the program will include financial services firm Charles Schwab and premium cable network HBO.

JiWire's advertising network currently encompasses more than 100,000 Wi-Fi hot spots, and the company's Ads for Access program has been running in selected Wi-Fi hotspots. Typically, Ads for Access advertisements are full video presentations lasting 30 seconds or more. In mid-2007, JiWire announced a partnership with Microsoft to deliver advertisements over municipal Wi-Fi networks; however, most of those networks are now being scaled back or scrapped, leaving the future of the partnership in doubt. JiWire also operates a directory of more than 150,000 verified Wi-Fi hot spots, and offers a version for the iPhone.

For more Mac news, visit Macworld. Story copyright Mac Publishing, LLC.