The 802.11b-based wireless network will be fully free and open to the public and Schlotzsky’s plans to market it using the )( symbol used in warchalking circles, known as the node symbol. It’s being called a ‘Stealth Ad’ campaign.

He believes it launched too early in the development of the e-commerce market. But he also argues that: “Instead of trying to do five different deals in three different time zones every second day, the attitude should have been slow burn.” But even if it had launched later, the fact that it wanted to launch in 17 countries at once must surely have meant the site would get pole-axed anyway?

Meanwhile a new shared infrastructure and better spectrum allocation for wireless access are among the Broadband Stakeholder Group’s recommendations for increasing broadband coverage in the UK.

Other speakers included Neil Holloway, managing director at Microsoft UK, and John Naughton, fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge, and observer columist.

The Association will involve the French newspapers Le Monde and Les Echos together with El Pais (Spain), The Guardian, the Financial Times (UK), Die Frankfuerter Allgemeine Zeitung, Der Spiegel (Germany), the Italian newspapers La Stampa, l