Cox Business is helping its customers offer access to free hotspots in Rhode Island.

The service is a network of customer-facing businesses that offers Cox Business Managed Wi-Fi, which allows customers of these businesses the ability to login and surf the Web for free at local hotspots.

"Consumers today want to stay connected wherever they go," said Mark Scott, vice president of Cox Business New England. "Cox Wi-Fi hotspots powered by Cox Business is another way companies can add value to the experience they provide their customers."

Cox Business Managed Wi-Fi is a turnkey solution for providing free wireless Internet access to the customers of businesses in Rhode Island. The Wi-Fi product they purchase from Cox is available free to anyone, not just Cox high-speed Internet subscribers.

"Some locations offer Wi-Fi only to the customers of the Internet provider that supplies the Wi-Fi service," Scott said. "Rhode Island businesses in the Cox network are able to offer Cox Wi-Fi hotspots to every one of their customers."

Cox Business Managed Wi-Fi Includes:

• Professional installation of Wi-Fi equipment
• Promotional signage to promote the hotspots
• Safe, secure and legal authentication and SSL certification
• Monthly activity reporting
• Cross-promotion via Cox Residential products and services
• Full support and troubleshooting 24/7

Cable operators are offering free Wi-Fi hotspots in order to better compete with the telcos in their footprints. Last month, Time Warner Cable, Comcast and Cablevision formed a partnership that allowed subscribers the ability to roam for free across each other’s Wi-Fi hotspots in the New York City metropolitan area.