• The Wall Street Journal, Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12 PM

A new generation of ad firms is bundling ad space on numerous local Wi-Fi wireless Internet networks throughout the country for sale to marketers. Wi-Fi networks offer marketers the ability to buy space on key position, such as the welcome page seen by Web surfers.

Wi-Fi networks also enable marketers to reach consumers on the go with ads targeted to specific geographic locations. So far, though, the Wi-Fi networks that have mostly drawn big advertisers are those operated by airports and hotels.

Brokerage firm Charles Schwab, for example, has bought ads on wireless hubs at more than a dozen airports. The ads have outperformed other online ads, prompting the company to advertise through hotel Wi-Fi connections as well. Similarly, Dell started running ads on wireless networks at airports and hotels.

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