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iPhone customers report AT&T sending WiFi SMS reminder

Several readers are reporting that they've gotten SMS messages from AT&T reminding them of the long-awaited "free wireless at Starbucks" plan. First announced in February with a target launch of 'spring 2008,' the service has been quietly running on and off since April, including two hours of daily access at any Starbucks store or AT&T hotspot. T-Mobile users who have existing hotspot accounts are supposed to have ongoing access to the network in Starbucks stores.

Although the service has been available on a spotty basis, an official "yes it's working" announcement has been long in coming. Have you gotten a reminder from AT&T? Is WiFi working at your local Starbucks? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in


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Wireless iPhone

Several readers are reporting that they've gotten SMS messages from AT&T reminding them of the long-awaited "free wireless at...
 

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Lewin Edwards

Got the message but the service doesn't actually work - every Starbucks I've tried (in NY) takes me to the login screen, but when I enter my tel# and click submit, it gives me an error page saying there's a temporary problem.

November 04 2008 at 8:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
frank

Do you need a laptop connect card?

November 03 2008 at 11:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tyler

I got my text message and am typing this from a starbucks wifi connection. it works fine but getting connected is a bit annoying. you have to enter your cell phone number on the portal page, then close safari, go to the SMS app click on the link in the SMS u receieve then let it load in safari. the link on the SMS appears to be only good once meaning if you go out of range you have to do the whole process all over again. As a side note, I did a speed test on the starbucks connection and got an average speed of about 540 kbps which isn't too bad.

November 02 2008 at 1:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
vagabonder

Ok, I'll bite. Why go to Starbucks for WiFi when I'm already connected where I am with 3G?

October 30 2008 at 8:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jayson

got mine about 10 seconds before I scrolled down to read the article... pretty freaky if you ask me.

October 30 2008 at 10:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Allen

Received my msg last night at 8.24 PM central. But my question is, what will they do with my phone number once I confirm to Starbucks (or who ever) what my number is?

October 30 2008 at 9:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
wer

I got the text too, but what is interesting is that I'm using a jailbroken and unlocked iPhone and have never ever told at and t that I'm using a first gen iPhone on pick your plan deal! Are they welcoming unlockers now?????? And how do they know I'M using an iPhone!!

October 29 2008 at 10:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Stewart

Received my message about 10 minutes ago (in Dallas, TX), but spent the past two hours at Starbucks playing on the internet after being tipped off by a friend in Austin early this morning. Based upon my research by trial and error, the 24-hour access token is tied to the MAC Address of the device and Phone Number as well. It would be interesting to see if spoofing the MAC Address, IP Address, and running Safari with Mobile Safari User Agent enabled from my mac would enable it for access. None of the standard iPhone proxy servers work, as they all appear designed to tunnel data through the 3G connection and expect ad-hoc Wifi networks.

October 29 2008 at 9:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

Now if AT&T would just make an iPhone app that could facilitate getting on their own WiFi network automatically...going through the browser every time and entering the same information EVERY TIME makes it so cumbersome that it's easier to just use 3G...and from the speeds and flakiness I've seen at most Starbucks and AT&T WiFi hotspots, 3G would probably be faster anyway!

October 29 2008 at 7:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
T.

Thanks for the heads-up! FYI, there's a free eBook available that covers some cool iPhone apps. The eBook can be downloaded w/ easy registration here:
http://www.devx.com/ebook/Article/37886

October 29 2008 at 6:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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