Google's Free Airport WiFi, Maybe Near You

(MoneyWatch)  Google announced that it would offer free "holiday" WiFi in 47 airports across the country, from now until Jan. 15. "We know that this is a very hectic travel season for people, and we hope that free WiFi will make both traveling and connecting with friends and family a little bit easier," said Google spokeswoman Marissa Mayer.

If the wording sounds a little familiar, it's probably because of a similar statement made about Google's free in-flight WiFi on Virgin America, which also starts today. For the airport holiday gift, Google will also be working with Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, Airport Marketing Income and "others" it chooses not to identify.

As for the 47 airports including in the project, what's most noticeable is who's not on the list. While the 47 airports include Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and Logan International Airport in Boston, don't expect to see Google's Free WiFi at Los Angeles International, Chicago's O'Hare International, San Francisco International or in New York's John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports. (Although those heading to smaller airports in Bozeman, Mont. and Omaha may be pleasantly surprised.)
A good thing that came out of the project is that both Sea-Tac and the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif. will be offering free WiFi "indefinitely" to passengers.

Obviously this is great public relations move for Google and I'm sure such goodwill is going to be banked for a future product or use (Google requests donations to three charities.) Some of the more cynical would suggest Google's pushing Google Checkout or offering free WiFi for strategic name placement. I noticed in its FAQ that "Google will have access to some aggregate, non-personally identifiable information," from the service. I'm sure all that will come in handy.

With the upcoming Google, Motorola and Verizon entry into the mobile phone market taking on Apple's iPhone, Google may need all the goodwill, name placement and information it can get.