Some 2,500 cash points across the UK are set to become Wi-Fi hotspots under a new deal between BT and Cashbox, a leading supplier of ATMs.
Cashbox charge a commission for withdrawals from their machines so they tend to have their cash points located in public places where there is no existing cash point terminal such as in retail outlets, bars and restaurants.
Over a time span of five years, all of Cashbox’s 2500 ATMs will be upgraded by BT to become Wi-Fi hotspots.
The five year contract is likely to benefit homes and businesses which are located near the cash machines and will also boost the UKs overall Wi-Fi broadband connections.
Before you grab your laptop and head to the nearest café with a Cashbox Cash Point, only 10 of their cash points will be fitted out with the technology initially. These will be located in the North and South of the UK as well as in Scotland and Wales.
The cities set to benefit first are London, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff although precisely which ATMs will get the technology first hasn’t been revealed as yet.
“Some of our sites lend themselves to becoming hotspots more than others,” says Ciaran Morton, CEO of Cashbox. “It’s really just the start of our rollout. We will look at extending coverage over the coming months.”
Why are Cashbox doing it?
“As a customer focused business, we are continually looking for ways to extend our service offering, and with exciting initiatives such as this we are providing our customers with additional opportunities to utilise the ATM machines. May was an all time record month for transaction levels as people are finding cash preferable to credit in the current economic climate” says Morton.
Of course it is also likely to bring in some extra cash for Cashbox as they will share the revenues generated based on usage levels.
What does BT have to say?
Chris Bruce, General Manager of BT Openzone, said, “We are seeing huge demand for Wi-Fi in the leisure and hospitality sector. BT customers can also connect at over 190,000 residential and commercial hotspots in the UK and Ireland including BAA airports, BA lounges, Caffe Nero, Hilton, Thistle and Ramada Jarvis hotels and, from July 2009, Starbucks coffee stores.”
Around 4.8 million existing BT broadband clients with inclusive Wi-Fi minutes will be able to use the new service as will O2 iPhone customers.
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