As part of the city’s rollout of public WiFi access, New York merchants are being encouraged to sign up to the free We2 location-based social network that enables retailers and restaurateurs to communicate with customers and potential customers nearby.
Launching on 15 December 2014, the We2 “social WiFi” network connects the city’s residents and visitors to the more than 2,000 hotspots being implemented throughout the commercial corridors of all five New York City boroughs.
No only will the project deliver free wifi to people out and about – something that is becoming a necessity everywhere to drive e and m-commerce, but We2 also aims to make that free wifi earn its keep, allowing businesses to advertise to people nearby using direct messaging.
It will also aim to let retailers know customers and potential customers better by seeing who is connected and gathering insights into what they are doing and what they like. It is also secure and safe wifi access without having to enter passwords or pay any money.
The first 500 New York City businesses that sign-up to We2 are guaranteed free advertising to network users for the first six months.
This project is part of the partnership between Gowex and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), in the context of Michael Bloomberg’s Wireless Corridor Challenge. The goal is to make New York the top tech city in the US and to provide citizens and merchants more access to smart services.
