Just have a question for those who live in assisted homes or similar places

[Hawkeye-X]

Would it make any sense to have a shared broadband internet there? Trying to see if we can specialize in a few places like these. The costs of Internet is about $20-22/month for each unit.

Wonder if that would work?

[MineralMan]

1. An awful lot of them already have wireless throughout the facility.

That trend will grow, no doubt. It's an amenity people insist on these days, and it's easy to supply at low cost. I'm not at all sure there's a business opportunity there, unless you're setting up the wireless system. I'm afraid the time for the opportunity may have passed already. Most older folks have been using computers and the internet for some time now, and insist on it in these places as part of the expected amenities.

For example, I'm 65, and I've been online since 1982. My wife's mother, who is 82, has a wireless network in her house, so she can use her notebook anywhere she is. She wouldn't be without it. Older people are plenty computer-savvy these days, you know. It's 2010.

[WyLoochka]

2. 55 apartments in my Mom's

assisted living place. Not one person has a computer.

But I would expect that to change fairly rapidly

[MineralMan]

3. Yeah, it's about to change. As the boomers move into those places

over the next years, they're bringing their computers.

Here in the Twin Cities, most of the assisted living and retirement living places are all wireless networked. My wife's mom has been checking them out. If they're not now, they will be soon. It's not an expensive thing to add as an amenity.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. If they can afford $20/month Internet service

then we can provide high speed Internet service with the same people.

Most Internet amenities (individually) can run up to $50-60/month.

Take a look at our website - www.tenant-internet.com

Hawkeye-X

[Hawkeye-X]

4. I understand, but as you know, if Internet is not part of the amenities, it should be

and we're trying to offer a very cheap rate for monthly or annually.

We're trying to give low cost Internet to everyone by setting up shared broadband for everyone who wants high speed Internet.

It's just an idea we're working with, and we have some connections to assisted living care (business and personal side).

Would it make sense to see if the whole building want the Internet or just individuals - and if there are enough, we can make it work.

Hawkeye-X