Google, Yahoo, eBay and Microsoft, all major online competitors, are competing for your attention this Christmas – in the form of free Wi-Fi access in airports, airplanes and public places.

Google said on Tuesday that it would provide free Wi-Fi access in 47 airports in the US. Travelers who connect to a wireless ‘hot spot’ at one of the airports will see a browser page that gives them the chance to donate to three charities and have the donation matched by Google.

Google is also providing free Wi-Fi on Virgin America flights for the same period.

EBay will provide free Wi-Fi on some Delta Air Lines. Why would eBay have free Wi-Fi I hear you ask? Logging on will take users first to eBay’s holiday page, but they will be free to roam from there.

Since September, Microsoft has given away Wi-Fi access at some hotels and airports, encouraging users to make a query on the company’s new search engine, Bing.

On Monday, Yahoo said it is giving away Wi-Fi access in New York’s Times Square. One street of the busy area was converted into pedestrian zone with lawn chairs this spring, giving more of a reason to dawdle and perhaps flip open a laptop.

Boingo Wireless, which operates for-pay hot spots in airports and is part of Google’s project, said it has been getting good results with free Wi-Fi campaigns sponsored by hotel chains. The campaigns typically offer users 15 to 20 minutes of access after they watch a 30-second video advertisement.


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