Verizon plans to launch free WiFi-based "hot zones" for its wireless customers as a way to offload some of its wireless traffic, according to a statement from a company executive today. Connectedplanetonline.com reports that Verizon"s chief technology officer Tony Melone revealed those plans during a speech today at the TIA 2011 today in Dallas, Texas. The future plans was later confirmed by a company spokesperson.
According to the article, Verizon"s customers on its 3G and its new 4G/LTE network will be able to sign onto free WiFi hot zones "in locations with high smartphone and mobile broadband traffic". Places such as hotels, colleges, and athletic stadiums might be some of the locations that could become WiFi hot zones under Verizon. However, there"s no word yet on which cities will have these free WiFi hot zones. There"s also no word on when this program will start. The Verizon spokesperson said that the details of the services are still being worked out.
Verizon"s FiOS Internet broadband customers can already get access to free WiFi connections in over 5,000 locations. It"s more than likely that Verizon will allow its smartphone customers to gain access to those WiFi zones as well.
AT&T, who is notorious for having a wireless network that drops calls, has already launched its own program of having WiFi hot zones for its wireless phone customers. It started with Times Square in New York City and has since expanded that program to include locations in Charlotte, NC, Austin, Texas, San Francisco and Chicago.