The battle between free and paid wireless Internet access is starting to look fierce. However, I think there is going to be a draw, rather than a winner. Meet free WiFi with advertisements; everybody wins!

Wherever I go, I am notified of WiFi signals from everywhere. Personal, Airports, Businesses, Hotels, Parks, etc. All these places are now offering WiFi. Where some are free, others cost money. Why would one spend money to browse the net, when they can connect elsewhere for free? Many a person ponders that question. The answer is quite simple if you look at it closely – To continue having access to the internet. Nothing is free these days, but the battle between free WiFi and paid WiFi could meet up in the middle to provide WiFi with advertisements.

Travelers want to log on everywhere at no charge and they search for the closest “free’est” WiFi, while hotels, airports and coffee shops are looking for a way to pay for their Wi-Fi networks as visitors increasingly use greater amounts of bandwidth. The compromise that is emerging is to offer both free and paid options, with the free services increasingly requiring something in return, like viewing an advertisement or signing up for a loyalty program.

Starbucks is probably the biggest example. In February, the company announced plans to switch to AT&T from T-Mobile as the Internet provider in its U.S. stores. When AT&T takes over, customers who use their Starbucks card once a month will get two hours of free Wi-Fi access each day. Otherwise, that same time period will cost $3.99, or $19.99 for a monthly unlimited access plan.

I recently went on a trip to Indianapolis and stayed at the Hyatt Regency hotel. This hotel, which used to offer free Wi-Fi, switched to a dual pricing model, like so many hotels are doing today. I was able to get free in-room wireless access by signing up. An option appears on screen when guests try to log on. The alternative is to go to the hotel’s lobby and pay $9.99 for 24 hours of use.

Hotels also have greater costs associated with guests spending more time online. The typical Internet session is much shorter at cafes and airports, where free or ad-supported Wi-Fi is gaining more traction. At the airport in Indianapolis, there was a fee required. There was not an option, however from my airport in my hometown, I was greeted with free ad-supported WiFi.

No one is able to please everyone, but I would imagine that ad-supported WiFi would be a hit. Not only is a person able to browse the internet without paying (in most cases), but the company is still able to get money to keep these hotspots open for us to use publicly. What is your opinion on the subject? We would love to hear them; leave your comments!

Remember when I first introduced BuyMyTronics? BuyMyTronics pays you for your new, used, or damaged electronics when you send them in by mail. To receive some money for your “tronic,” you will need to use the provided pull-down menus to describe the condition of your item. BuyMyTronics will then generate an approximate value of your tronic, like a blue book value. Should you choose to accept their offer; BuyMyTronics will reimburse you via check or PayPal for the amount they quoted you within 24 hours of receiving your item.

The service is great and just recently, I had a chance to hear directly from Brett Mosley himself, President of BuyMyTronics.com. I fully support what Mosley has done by allowing one to essentially sell their item and get money for it. Quotes are fair, and the electronics go to a good cause. In a recent email update of his company, Mosley informed me of some exciting changes. In his efforts to grow, we will now see some changes to what they will now accept.

Last year, when I wrote about BuyMyTronics, you may remember me mentioning the company not offering much. Specifically, cell phones such as the iPhone. In a recent announcement, they now accept cell phones to their growing list of items that they purchase, broken and used, making BuyMyTronics one of the only major companies that accept broken electronics. That is great news. How many of us (like myself) have quite a few cell phones lying around because of constant upgrades? I’m sure many of you all do. Look no further than BuyMyTronics!

They are able to pay up to $225 for a broken iPhone and up to $220 for a Used Blackberry. They now purchase Cell Phones, iPods, iPhones, Smart Phones, PDAs, Game Consoles, and Zunes with more types coming soon! “So, how exactly are they making money,” do you ask? They answer is one that I absolutely love and can be summed up in one word: Green.

They are able to make money by taking the working parts of devices and use them to fix others. It is a win-win solution. E-Waste stays out of landfills and they are able to put cash in people’s pockets. And speaking of going green, Mosley informed me that they are delighted to announce that BuyMyTronics.com is now 100% wind powered which has lowered the harmful impact on the environment, which is a very smart move in my opinion.

I look forward to following the company closely for more exciting changes to come. If you would like more information about the company and have more questions, visit here and make sure to get rid of those tronics you have!