Google to offer free wi-fi at some airports this holiday season

Google announced today in a press release that they will be providing free wireless internet to 47 U.S. airports now through January 15, 2010.

Mountain View, CA based Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) will be partnering with Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, Airport Marketing Income and other companies to provide free wi-fi services for holiday travelers during the 2009-2010 travel season. Some of the airports included will be Las Vegas, Boston, Orlando, Charlotte, and others. In addition, Seattle will be gaining free wi-fi indefinitely as a result of this deal. Marissa Mayer, Vice President of Search Products and User Experience at Google states, "We know that this is a very hectic travel season for people, and we hope that free Wi-Fi will make both traveling and connecting with friends and family a little bit easier." The FAA estimates that over 100 million people will be traveling through U.S. airports this holiday season. In addition to the free wi-fi, anyone who logs on to the network will be provided the opportunity to submit a Google-matched donation to Engineers Without Borders, the One Economy Corporation or the Climate Savers Computing Initiative.