EatOut Kenya, Google and Wazi WiFi are teaming up to provide restaurant owners in Nairobi with internet solutions for  their customers. This, they say, will help restaurant owners grow their businesses as well as offer patrons value added services. According to Eat Out Kenya, restaurants with an online presence are now gaining an edge with clients, who like to make reservations in advance, view menus and prices, and see reviews of establishments before choosing a bar or restaurant.

EatOut Kenya is an online portal that offers restaurant guides and bookings to prospective patrons. Wazi WiFi provides wireless internet access to most parts of Nairobi. Clients pay for the service through M-Pesa to get connections, with tariffs such as KES 0 for 10 minutes, KES 50 for a whole day (24 hours) and KES 500 for a month.

“The initiative gives customers the freedom to continue with their digital life even in restaurants. And because Wazi WiFi offers unlimited internet access, the business owners do not need to worry about bills piling up. We therefore see this as another way for increasing the restaurants’ competitive edge, while at the same time get more people online. ” Said Joe Mucheru,Google Country Manager.

“About 400 restaurants are registered with EatOut Kenya and the site is hoping to increase the numbers. Restaurant owners will therefore be able to provide an environment where customers can also work. Wazi WiFi is social, it’s fast and it’s business oriented.”Said Mikul Shah, the Co-Founder and CEO of the Eatout Kenya.

The partnership between Google , Wazi WiFi and Eat Out Kenya will see Kenyans stay connected on the go, by switching to WiFi connections on their phones, tablets, or laptops while in the eating establishments.

“For 10 minutes per day, customers will get to surf the internet from their devices for free." Riyaz Bachani, Group CTO at Wananchi Group (Wazi WiFi) stated. Unlimited access will b subject to normal rates

According to a 2009 study by Hospitality Technolgy a negative correlation exists between the cost of WiFi access in restaurants and customers' intentions to return. As the cost of restaurant WiFi access increases, customers are less likely to return to that establishment. To offset this, the study suggests that WiFi services should be offered to customers either free of charge or through a business model where customers are required to make a food or beverage purchase to access the free WiFi service. This way, the cost of the service will be satisfied.

The data also shows a positive correlation between perceived value of WiFi and intention to return to a restaurant.