Internet Cafes

[EternalOptimist]

There was a time , not so long ago , when the internet cafe was a saviour. Web access when you were away from home. They were often full to bursting.
This year I have used four, and they were all dead, virtually empty, and prices were very low. It sort of brought home to me how fast things are moving these days.
A niche can be spotted, developed, exploited then become redundant in the space of a few years.

[DimPrawn]

There was a time , not so long ago , when the internet cafe was a saviour. Web access when you were away from home. They were often full to bursting.
This year I have used four, and they were all dead, virtually empty, and prices were very low. It sort of brought home to me how fast things are moving these days.
A niche can be spotted, developed, exploited then become redundant in the space of a few years.

You get free WiFi in MacDonalds for example. And get to enjoy fine dining too!

[TimberWolf]

I prefer a WiFi connection, as when I want to use internet abroad it's often for credit card transactions, e.g. to buy an airline ticket - only on encrypted (https/SSL) sites obviously. PCs in internet cafes will likely be overflowing with keyloggers, as well as Windows remembering credit card details. A local library can be used for printing, or even an internet cafe.

[Clippy]

As with any business, depends on location.

I've seen internet cafes in areas with a large number of immigrants busy on a regular basis.

[MrMark]

Does anyone claim anymore to earn a living from Google ads? Always seemed a short term fad to me.

[EternalOptimist]

Does anyone claim anymore to earn a living from Google ads? Always seemed a short term fad to me.

aye.
what about 'we will buy your gold' shops

springing up all over the place

[Dearnla]

When I bought my iPad, I bought a Wi-Fi only model, on the grounds that I can get a signal 99% of the time where I need it.
I was reading a 4 year old contract this morning that made provision fro accessing a system via WAP - how quaint!

[Saddo]

I suspect the Internet cafe's future was brought to an end with the arrival of mobile broadband together with these small laptops which only started appearing in the last couple of years - you just buy a USB stick and pocket sized laptop and you can get onto the Internet from virtually anywhere, including a motorway services car park. Same general idea as WiFi but you don't have to hunt around for a WiFi hotspot.

[TimberWolf]

I suspect the Internet cafe's future was brought to an end with the arrival of mobile broadband together with these small laptops which only started appearing in the last couple of years - you just buy a USB stick and pocket sized laptop and you can get onto the Internet from virtually anywhere, including a motorway services car park. Same general idea as WiFi but you don't have to hunt around for a WiFi hotspot.

Mobile phones are becoming pretty powerful (smart) these days too. Even the cheap ones. Youngsters use them for social networking or something, facebook and the like, apparently. These devices increasingly do email and internet to an acceptable standard and costs can be relatively low.

For example The Gadget Show reveiwed 5 phones for under £50 last week. Top came the Samsung Genio Querty which has 2 MP camera, internet, email, keyboard, easy access to networking sites, maps, music player and works as a phone too. I'm half tempted, as places like Asda provide interesting looking PAYG plans too. WiFi is still at a premium though. One day Rodders.

[DimPrawn]

aye.
what about 'we will buy your gold' shops

springing up all over the place

That's a brilliant business model.

You give them valuable gold and they in exchange give you worthless paper currency.