Borders partners with Verizon for free Wi-Fi

Border is making all of its stores hotspots with the help of Verizon.The Ann Arbor-based firm is contracting with the cell phone company to provide free Wi-Fi services at every Borders in the U.S. That’s 500 more places that people will be able to pop open a lap top or boot up an iPhone and have easy access to the Internet.”Anyone can come in and access the free Wi-Fi regardless of the provider,” says Mary Davis, a spokeswoman for Borders. Previously, Borders offered Wi-Fi through another wireless carrier where only subscribers to that carrier could access the Internet. Think of the frustrating AT&T-only wireless at Starbucks and you’ll get the idea.Borders expects to have the free Wi-Fi up by mid-October. This is expected to make the stores more engaging for customers and increase foot traffic.Source: Mary Davis, a spokeswoman for BordersWriter: Jon Zemke