Tencent had previously indicated it would let the service remain free and try to monetize the platform by offering value-added services like online games and mobile shopping.
Together, JiWire and AWG enable venues to deliver Wi-Fi as a free value-added service to their customers supported by the platform's ability to generate significant advertising revenue.
"We want to leverage that BBM platform to create new services that are really value-added services that people, companies, whatever, are really willing to pay for, " Mr. Heins said.
Civic Platform has promoted a single rate of 15% for value-added tax and income tax, wants to shrink government and favours faster privatisation of the state's remaining assets.
This makes Locu a powerful platform for the creation of a host of services that will complement and become value-added to already existing local-based businesses like Yelp and Foursquare.