Report: Facebook Testing Free Wi-Fi Check-In Program

After crossing the one billion user mark a few months ago, speculation ramped up as to how Facebook might further leverage its phenomenal growth. While talk of a Facebook phone and even a search engine crop up every few months, Facebook is actually engaged in a far more practical experiment: free Wi-Fi check-ins.

The unannounced project was first noticed by Scotland-based developer Tom Waddington, who identified a line of text in Facebook's Page Insights code referring to something called "social Wi-Fi." Waddington then found an explanation of the code, which read, "People who liked your Page after checking in via Facebook Wi-Fi." The developer surmised that this was a new Facebook option for businesses offering Wi-Fi to customers with Facebook accounts.

That developer's suspicions were soon confirmed when InsideFacebook did some digging and managed to obtain a statement from Facebook saying. "We are currently running a small test with a few local businesses of a Wi-Fi router that is designed to offer a quick and easy way to access free Wi-Fi after checking in on Facebook," the social network said. "When you access Facebook Wi-Fi by checking in, you are directed to your local business's Facebook Page."

According to the report, the service will allow businesses participating in the pilot program to track how many customers use the service, a dynamic that could provide new advertising opportunities for Facebook in the future. As part of the program Facebook is providing the router equipment, while the businesses are responsible for providing the actual Internet access.

Customers who aren't Facebook users can reportedly access the free Wi-Fi service by obtaining a free, temporary passcode from the business owner. But Facebook has not yet officially announced plans to roll out the social Wi-Fi router service to a wider group of businesses.