Facebook offers free Wi-Fi through Cisco, plus updated search

[Commentary] Facebook and Cisco announced a partnership that would offer free Wi-Fi to customers if they check in to a business on Facebook.

The business would then be able to access anonymous data from their customers’ Facebook accounts, allowing them to better understand their target audiences, and potentially run more ads on Facebook. The program was developed by Meraki, a small cloud-based Wi-Fi based company acquired by Cisco in 2012. The idea behind the program is to give Facebook access to small-business ad revenue, while giving businesses the opportunity to understand their audience better, connect Cisco to a growing mobile audience, plus keep customers connected to Wi-Fi (and their online friends).