Dear readers,
I was waiting around for some guests to arrive at KLIA some time last year, when I decided to experiment with one of the Multimedia kiosks located just near one of the entrances. Here's what I found.
This is a photo of the main interface that greets the user if the user wants to try and get Internet Access.
I clicked on Google, to try and see if Internet Access is indeed free. A pop-up window promptly appeared, informing me that I need to insert some cash or swipe a credit card in order for me to experience Internet Access at this Multimedia Kiosk.
That's fine, perhaps I shall surf for some information regarding KLIA instead. How many of us know much about our favourite Malaysian airport anyway? I clicked on the Leisure tab shown in the photo above, to discover what opportunities for Leisure are available in KLIA.
I saw that KLIA offers the above depicted services. OK, let's try Business Centre. A predictable service offered for the many business travellers out there.
Lo and behold, I saw a link to a website down at the bottom of the Business Centre description page. A thought crossed my mind, "What if I clicked on the available link here? Would it take me to the internet? Would my access still be restricted only to information regarding KLIA?" I clicked on it.
A Google page came up! That's nice. So Google is telling me that the link I clicked on just now is no longer available. Go ahead and try the link I showed in the photo on your desktop browser or mobile device. I just did, it showed the exact same 404 error today as it did that day.
But wait! A Google page came up...to get to Google would mean that I got through to the Internet somehow and the Internet (Google that is) responded in kind with the 404 message. Could it be that I'm already experiencing Internet Access, but without paying by cash or credit card?
What should one do to test whether one has a reasonably good internet access? There's nothing like streaming videos off the Internet, I guess. I went to youtube and it's just as depicted in the screenshot above.
Perhaps one of the more interesting videos or music videos at that time was 'What does the fox say?' So I tried that.
Yup, no problems whatsoever playing back that video.
And as depicted in the slightly zoomed out screenshot above, all video surfing activities were conducted on RM00.00 credit. Well, it was just 1 video, but hey :)
What do you think? Are multimedia kiosks still needed in this day and age of mobile/on the go, computing? Or are they mere relics of a bygone era? Should people even be charged for Internet Access nowadays when there are entire countries that provide Internet Access for free to its citizens? Some for free since as far back as 2003.
Does KLIA have Free WiFi you ask? Apparently they do offer free WiFi. Enjoy!
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