AT&T has finally announced that they are offering free Wi-Fi access to iPhone users across the US at thousands of hotspots nationwide including Starbucks.
We had first heard about AT&T's plans to offer free Wi-Fi access to iPhone users back in May and then again in July, however at that time AT&T had told the New York Times that the information had leaked out on their website due to manual errors.
This time round AT&T has sent out an SMS message to iPhone users announcing the good news.
AT&T has made the following announcement on their site:
"AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and FREE Wi-Fi is even hotter. Which is why FREE AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available for Apple iPhone at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including Starbucks*. Users can relax and access music, email and web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their nearest location. For information visit www.att.com/attwifi."
This means AT&T's iPhone subscribers now have free access to Wi-Fi at over 17,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across US, including:
* 12 Airports
* 31 Hotels
* 23 Universities
* 18 Convention Centers
* 5 Sports Centers
* 8,000 + Restaurants
* 700 + Bookstores
* 50 + Supermarkets
iPhone users received the following SMS message from AT&T informing them about the free Wi-Fii access.
You can locate Wi-Fi spots through AT&T's online tool or can locate a Starbucks using this tool.
Once you have located the Wi-Fi hotspot, you can follow these simple steps to access AT&T's free Wi-Fi from their iPhone:
- Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
- Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks.
- Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the Acceptable Use Policy. Tap 'continue'.
- You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
- The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hotspot location.
- Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot.
So if have you been able to check the free Wi-Fi access at AT&T's hotspots do let us know in the comments.
Thanks Eric for the tip!
[AT&T via Mac Rumors]
Top iPhone Hacks Categories:
Hacks
iPhone Applications
Unlock iPhone
JailBreak iPhone
iPhone Tips & Tricks
iPhone Games
iPhone News
Thats funny… I didnt get the text.
I have just a question, if AT&T would not allowed to by iPhone with out a line activation, and the plan doesn't have the option to eliminate the 3G internet access, why in the world will the allowed to use Wi-Fi?, I mean, if you have internet 24/7, why will you need other type of connection?, can someone explain that to me, bcause it doesn't make sense.
I didn't get the text either.
There are various reasons that you need other forms of connections:
3G is only available in limited areas
3G is unreliable in a lot of the areas that it is available
Wifi is still faster than 3G and the iPhone uses A LOT of data
Wifi is easier on the battery than 3G (At least as far as I can tell)
ALso I would like to note that if they would now allow us to connect to the internet through iPhone (tethering) via Bluetooth, then we could also have free wifi for our laptops.
is it possible to buy the iphone from AT&T without paying for web service. i have AT&T currently and im due for an upgrade the 24th of November, and i want to get the iphone WITHOUT thr web service. i don't know how to work around that only way i thought would be to subscribe to the service and in the middle of the first month call ATT and tell them my phone broke, i dropped it or something and tell them i cant use Internet and cancel my web service only. would that work? or any other ideas? i mean if wifi is about now this would help me a lot as i am a student and can hardly pay my regular phone service as it is let alone the web service for like an extra $30.
thanks for all the help.
sorry bro no can do. i work for att cust care and the data plan is required. even if we take it off our system catches it and automatically adds it back on there to prevent outragous data charges. and if you tell us u broke it even still the data plan cannot be removed untill the device is changed in our systems….just get a touch.
Just in case someone doesn't know, if you have their highspeed internet (dsl, u-verse etc.), then you can already get free wifi by using the same credentials.
I didn't get the text either.
As with some others, I don't really see the point of this, as 3G coverage is now in most major cities and is almost as fast as WIFI on the iphone. Even still, who is going to sit in a coffee shop and browse the internet all day on their cellphone? I could maybe see if AT&T allowed tethering, but who's to say you can't just use your laptop instead of your iphone using the free 24 hr access?
well, doesn't even comes with the plan an internet service even do 3G is not available?, if not, that will make AT&T a bunch of thief's because their are charging for a service that they won't provide, still doesn't make sense, if you have an iPhone and a plan with AT&T whether 3G or not, you are paying for internet service, you don't have a choice, and if so, you don't need Wi-Fi at all, so what's the trick?, I don't get it, call me wood headed, but it doesn't make sense.
it is always faster to download when you are connected to wifi compare to 3G connection. Some area does not have 3G connection so having a wifi in your iphone is much better than 2G connection.
I got the text. I was surprised, and first thing I checked this site to confirm
Anyway, for all you confused folk out there.
1 – Wifi is faster on the iPhone than 3g. All day, every day, no matter what. Here in Seattle, 3g tends to be around 1.8 mbit, faster than Qwest DSL. Wifi is faster.
2 – If you have 3g (if you have an iPhone, you must have 3g service @ $30 a month), you're basically always connected, even if it's not blazing fast. Wifi is faster. You don't need Wifi, but it's a nice convenience if your coffee shop has it.
Since my iPhone is jailbroken, I can tether it and steal the Wifi connection for use on my laptop. However, I would hope that the link you are texted could be used on your laptop straight up – a MAC address is a MAC address
Yes, Wi-Fi is faster, but since your paying the money for internet service on the iPhone…., argh, never mind, who cares about a free connections if your already paying something else and can't get rid off, bsides, can u download big ass .dmg's?, no u can't, so, what's the difference?, 0.010 seconds, big deal, they still have your money and u think it's free, still doesn't make any sense to me
No, it's clearly not free. 3g nor this new wireless access is free. That's AT&T – they profit off the the exclusivity of the iPhone. Now that it's impossible to even get an iPhone without an AT&T contract further strengthens their position. The iPhone is maybe the only reason AT&T posted a profit last quarter.
Personally, I despise AT&T – they screwed me over really bad on some BS roaming charges a few years back, and I switched to T-Mobile (but switched back, unfortunately). I also really disdain Apple – I'm certainly no fanboi. That said, I love my iPhone (especially now that's it's jailbroken). I just couldn't wait for Android to buy a smartphone.
While it sucks to be wrangled into this crappy "data plan," it's a necessary evil. Now, we get Wifi – yay.
Hello all,
This is a good thing…..will it work if you dont have a dataplan on you because i dont have one.i bought my phone almost a year back and didnt take dataplan since i am a student…so will this work for me…experts any comments…