Less than 24 hours after returning from Scandinavia and chronicling about the $40 per day cost of broadband, I checked into the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City (to attend a meeting early the next morning). I was not at all surprised to see broadband Internet access available in the room of this landmark hotel, but I was more than surprised to see the price — $9.95 for twenty four hours. One does not normally expect bargains in the "big apple", but compared to Norway and Sweden, it was a good deal. The charges in Scandinavia last week required daily entry of credit card information while in New York it was a couple of mouse clicks and the fee was added to the room bill.

• WiFi For $1,200 Per Month