FedEx offers free Wi-Fi at Atlanta stores; analysts expect UPS to follow suit

"We certainly love when customers do other business in the stores," said FedEx Office marketing specialist Maggie Thill. "It's about providing printing and shipping expertise. ... Providing services like free Wi-Fi helps customers discover those."

FedEx owns and operates its Office stores, while UPS Stores are franchised, UPS spokesman Norman Black said. As such, some UPS  stores do offer Wi-Fi, but Black said he did not know how many and said the service is certainly not offered in all stores.

"It's something we have studied off and on," he said. "I'm sure we'll continue to examine the need for it."

Analysts expect UPS to follow FedEx's lead and add the service. Bill Selesky, senior analyst for Argus Research in New York, said he thinks UPS will wait six to 12 months to see how Wi-Fi is received at FedEx before trying it on its own.

He doesn't expect to see an immediate business impact from the service for FedEx, but thinks it might help generate revenue as time goes on.

"It's a natural extension for them," Selesky said. "That's the way the business is going."

By offering free Wi-Fi, FedEx Office is enticing business travelers who might want to print or send presentations they worked on while flying, said Kevin Sterling, senior research analyst at BB&T Capital Markets in Richmond, Va. He said the move would also entice business travelers who need to check e-mail on their smart phones or print documents they couldn't get to otherwise.

FedEx previously offered Wi-Fi access for $9.99 for 24 hours. Sterling said travelers who weren't willing to pay for access before might now consider FedEx a destination.

"They're adapting their technology to customers who use mobile devices," he said. "It allows business customers the ability to make last-minute changes."