New
#1
This only works if all hot-spot owners agree to participate. And since they don't get any money, why would they? If my favorite restaurant or hotel want to provide a free wifi access, they could do so without the cell networks. If the hotel you are statying in wants to charge for Wifi, why would they then allow you to use free Wifi via your provider unless they get a cut?
I'm not sure what the problem actually is. Right now I use ATT and at home, work (or anywhere lese I got the access to, like at friends/family houses)or near an ATT Wi-Fi spot it automatically goes to Wi-Fi. Just in between I use 4G (if I enable it at all).
the technology isn't the problem, it is the financial model that is missing