AT&T offers free WiFi for iPhone users
A MacRumors tipster has discovered a treat for iPhone users from AT&T. It would seem that AT&T is offering free wireless internet access via an iPhone in Starbucks (we posted about the Starbucks-AT&T deal a little while ago) as well as in Barnes and Nobles and 71,000 other locations. MacRumors notes that you must enter your mobile iPhone number as a means of verification. A picture of the portal home page is available on MacRumors.


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Andrew Abate said 7:44AM on 5-01-2008
Yes, I noticed this this weekend at Barnes and Nobles - I had free wifi access on my iphone.. And on Tuesday, I was at my local Starbucks and originally the network launched tmobile's site, but switched quickly to AT&T...it's awesome. It will definitely bring me back to starbucks...now if we can only get the free 2 hours of wifi for our laptops, I'll be all set.
Andrew
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Taylor said 7:43AM on 5-01-2008
Why would AT&T introduce this if the iPhone was going to have 3G? Wouldn't this discourage users from paying AT&T money to use their network?
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(01) said 9:00PM on 5-01-2008
Any more than the multitude of other free wifi spots do? I don't think they're too worried about it. Besides, th two-hour time limit will kick you back anyway.
gap said 8:04PM on 5-02-2008
the internet(unlimited data fee) 3g is bulit in to the contract price anyhow... since wifi pricing is provider dependent this would actually urge people to use it instead of the data connect because it would be probably be faster... also frees up network bandwidth usage..... sounds like a good idea..
scott said 7:46AM on 5-01-2008
Got this page this morning at a Wi-Fi-ed McDonald's too!
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Zelaurent said 8:29AM on 5-01-2008
In Montreal (Canada), we don't have iPhone (officially) but we have free wireless for a while with Ile Sans Fil : http://www.ilesansfil.org/
Imagine more than 165 hotspots and 65.000 users ;)
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The Tuesday Night Tech Show said 8:50AM on 5-01-2008
This is SO cool; I'm *so* sick of going to McDonalds and spending $10 on crappy chicken mcnuggets and having to PAY THEM more money for wifi that SHOULD be free since I'm there buying food anyway. Good job, AT&T--one more good reason to get an iPhone!
Free iPhone-only Ringtones
http://ringtoneyouriphone.blogspot.com
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DistortedLoop said 2:07PM on 5-01-2008
If you're sick of McD's crap-nuggets why do you keep going? LOL.
MrBlank said 9:13AM on 5-01-2008
It's "Barnes & Noble". Do you guys call Wal-Mart "Wal-Marts" too?
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scott said 9:18AM on 5-01-2008
If you are talking about more than one....
Todd Sieling said 11:34AM on 5-01-2008
People often mean [name]'s but leave off the apostrophe, as in '[name]'s store'. Why get so fussy about this? The intent is what matters in a comment, not perfect conformity to someone's brand.
(01) said 9:01PM on 5-01-2008
Do you work for them? And no, I call WalMarts "shitty bastards"
Whiplash said 10:41AM on 5-01-2008
I logged in at Starbucks the other day. Mighty cool, but this particular store had the slowest connection I've ever seen. I think their router was actually another iPhone on dial up in the back room. Alright, I'm exaggerating. But it certainly wasn't as fast as my home wifi.
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hmcnally said 3:02PM on 5-01-2008
The authentication is as slow as heck, but once you suffer through it, the connectivity itself is OK (1.4 Mbps up/down according to Speakeasy.net), at least at this Starbucks location (suburban NYC).
jpmist said 1:28PM on 5-01-2008
This works in Atlanta, also.
You can use your laptop, too. Fire up Safari, enable the "Developer" menu. Go to it and select "User Agent" > "Mobile Safari - iPhone" and AT&T will think it's an iPhone.
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gap said 8:07PM on 5-02-2008
sorry to interrupt, but how do you geet to "developer" menu?
bluemonq said 3:16PM on 5-01-2008
No need for AT&T plan folks; as part of the evil, unwashed T-Mobile subscriber base, I can personally confirm that you can plug in a T-Mobile phone number and it will let the iPhone access the wi-fi. Now that I've given them my phone number, I just need to wait for the AT&T black ops folk to take me away for re-education...
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EclipseEmpire said 3:34PM on 5-01-2008
Here is a clear image of the portal page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/taylorsite/2456793993/
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Joe P. said 5:08PM on 5-01-2008
Didn't work for me at a Barnes & Noble in Livonia, MI. When I tried, I got the standard list of payable options, coupons or to use a membership. Is it possible that not all B&N locations have this up and running yet, or do I need to change iPhone settings?
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Seth A said 5:45PM on 5-01-2008
I expected this to happen, doesn't mean I am not happy and surprised!
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