Facebook explores Wi-Fi discovery feature

FACEBOOK IS BETA TESTING A WI-FI DISCOVERY FEATURE FOR IPHONES: Facebook is reportedly testing a feature that tells users where nearby Wi-Fi is being offered, according to The Next Web. When opted in to the new feature, users are shown a map with nearby locations that offer Wi-Fi, as well as information about the business, the network name, and how close the business is. The service can be found in the menu section for some iPhone users in select countries, and it's unclear whether the feature has been made available for Android users as of yet.  Aside from helping users connect to public Wi-Fi there are a number of reasons the company may be interested in pointing users toward Wi-Fi networks: It's part of Facebook's push for Live video. The company is working hard to build up its Live video platform, including the number of users creating live video content. This form of media requires a strong network connection to provide better footage, and can be a significant drain on costly mobile data. It could encourage local businesses to build up their Facebook profiles. The Wi-Fi finder showcases local businesses with a social media presence. This could serve to benefit these companies over those without a Facebook Page, thereby motivating these businesses to build up their presence.  It offers better location data. Location data is becoming increasingly important to mobile advertisers. Wi-Fi connections are more accurate than 4G data because they're tied to fixed broadband connections. This can help Facebook serve more accurate location-based ads to users. Moreover, the feature asks for users to leave their location data turned on, providing Facebook with a constant stream of incoming user location data.  This is not the first time Facebook has toyed with facilitating Wi-Fi access. In 2014 Facebook started a partnership with Cisco to offer free internet for users who checked into a business using the social network, according to VentureBeat. More generally, however, it's likely the initiative is just part and parcel of Facebook's efforts to get more users connected to the internet and using the social network. Other efforts include the company's Free Basics app, which gives users in emerging markets limited access to the internet without having to pay for the data used to access it. via businessinsider