Tesco is following in the footsteps of coffee shops and hotels by offering customers free Wifi services in its stores.

The free internet service is currently being piloted in four branches and will enable wireless connectivity to the internet for smartphone and laptop users.

If successful, the technology will be rolled out quickly elsewhere. Mike McNamara, Tesco’s chief information officer said: “My guess is it will go in all stores.”

The move will allow customers to compare prices and read product reviews as they shop. According to McNamara, consumers are already using mobile technology to compare whether the supermarket’s prices were competitive.

“You can stand Canute-like and pretend nothing is happening…or you can say it’s happening and I am going to help it happen,” McNamara added. 

Read more
Free WiFi will connect shops and shoppers (29 January 2011)