Interesting story in the NYT about a mall in Plano, TX that is setting up workstations and office equipment to entice office workers to spend time in the mall "working." Sounds like another desperate attempt from the mall to attract people over the age of 18 with jobs. The tech companies will spend lots of money on hardware and studies but in the end the services will probably be over run by teenage geeks. It's like trying to get serious work done on computers in the children's department at the public library.

The technology is important but so too is the experience and environment. This is mentioned in the article. As WiFi hotspots proliferate it's important for businesses implementing them to cultivate a differentiated experience around them. Why would I choose to work at a Starbucks Hotspot vs. a bookstore vs. a library? It's all about environment, people. Lighting/glare, power outlet access, furniture, noise levels, type of people around, bathroom access, availability of food/drink, etc. These are the driving factors beyond simple availability of WiFi.

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