Facebook teams up with Cisco to offer free Wi-Fi at shops, eateries

A feature introduced by Cisco and Facebook allows businesses to give customers access to their Wi-Fi networks when they post that they are at the retail location, or "check in," on the social network.

The idea is simple: Rather than charge customers for Internet access, businesses can instead trade their wireless connection for some exposure on Facebook. "Essentially, Facebook Wi-Fi gives people a simple way to access Wi-Fi at local businesses, and it gives local businesses a way to connect with their customers," a Facebook spokeswoman said. The new feature is found on Cisco's Meraki routers, which can be used by businesses, such as coffee shops or restaurants, to provide Wi-Fi for customers. Cisco announced a slew of new features for the routers; the Facebook login ability was one of the highlights.