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Alison Kosik
New York

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Alison Kosik
New York

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If you get your internet service from your cable-tv company, your access is about to become a lot more mobile.
Alison Kosik has more.
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FIVE OF THE NATION'S BIGGEST CABLE PROVIDERS ARE TEAMING UP TO GIVE THEIR CUSTOMERS FREE WI-FI ACCESS WHEN TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME NETWORK.
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, COMPANIES INCLUDING COMCAST, CABLEVISION AND TIME WARNER CABLE WILL OPEN UP THEIR COMBINED 50-THOUSAND WI-FI HOTSPOTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO THEIR COMPETITORS' SUBSCRIBERS.
THE HOTSPOTS WILL TARGET HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS, LIKE BEACHES, SPORTS VENUES AND SHOPPING MALLS.
CUSTOMERS OF THE 5-PROVIDERS WILL BE ABLE TO TAP INTO ANY HOTSPOTS AT THESE LOCATIONS FOR FREE.
SAY FOR EXAMPLE THAT YOU'RE A COX CUSTOMER FROM CLEVELAND BUT TRAVEL TO PHILADELPHIA. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO USE COMCAST'S WI-FI HOTSPOTS IN PHILLY FOR FREE.
TO ACCESS THE HOTSPOTS, USERS WILL LOG ON UNDER THE LABEL "CABLE-WI-FI".
THE GREAT THING ABOUT THESE HOTSPOTS IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE UP YOUR PHONE'S DATA PLAN TO SURF THE WEB.
IT ALSO A RESPONSE BY THE CABLE COMPANIES TO INCREASED COMPETITION.
MOBILE PHONE CARRIERS' 4-G NETWORKS PROVIDE BROADBAND-LIKE ACCESS ALMOST EVERYWHERE, AND MANY CUSTOMERS ARE STREAMING MOVIES AND T-V SHOWS DIRECTLY TO THEIR DEVICES -- WHICH MEANS THEY DON'T NEED TRADITIONAL CABLE SERVICES.
I'M ALISON KOSIK IN NEW YORK.
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