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Free Wi-Fi for iPhone users is back, really!

October 30th, 2008, 7:44 am · 4 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

**UPDATE, 9:30 a.m.: AT&T just released official word. Free Wi-Fi is for both iPhone and BlackBerry customers. Details below jump**

The on-again, off-again, back on-again free Wi-Fi offer for all iPhone users is apparently back on, according to this link on the AT&T web site.

If you remember, this same offer was spotted twice this year before AT&T yanked the premature offer.

Dozens of blogs started reporting the discovery last night (what are they doing? Sitting around refreshing this page all day?). I just got official confirmation from AT&T that yes, this is now official.

AT&T, apparently, took a different tactic in breaking the news: it’s telling the actual users first! iPhone users have been getting texts from AT&T informing them of the service. Reader Andrew Todd sent me a screengrab (note the time) of his text. Thanks Andrew!

As a reminder, AT&T now handles all the wireless hotspots at Starbucks and a bunch of other stores. It already offers free Wi-Fi to most users of its home high-speed Internet service, plus to members of Starbucks rewards club. 

Press release below:AT&T iPHONE CUSTOMERS TO RECEIVE FREE ACCESS TO NATION’S LARGEST WI-FI NETWORK

 DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2008 —There are now 17,000 more reasons for smart shoppers to buy a smartphone from AT&T. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced it will begin offering free AT&T Wi-FiSM service to current and new iPhone 3G and iPhone customers.  AT&T has the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network, with more than 17,000 hot spots including Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and thousands of other locations.  

AT&T plans to make the offer available to more mobile devices in the future. Additional details, including instructions on how to access the hot spots, are available at www.attwifi.com.

 “AT&T is committed to providing its customers with the best connectivity at the best value,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T’s mobility business unit. “We have the industry’s leading lineup of smartphones, along with the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network. It only makes sense for us to bring these unique capabilities together for our customers.”  

Free Wi-Fi access is also available with all AT&T small business broadband plans, AT&T 

U-verse High Speed Internet plans and with qualified AT&T LaptopConnect plans. For customers without an AT&T broadband or smartphone plan, Wi-Fi subscriptions are available for $19.99 a month, providing worldwide access to both AT&T and partner locations. 

 

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Posted in: Cell phones • iPhone • • • • •
 
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 4 Comments

  • Andrew says:
    October 30, 2008 at 6:01 pm

    This is so great. I just got the text and can’t wait to try it out…Especially since I currently have to rely on EDGE when outside of WiFi.

  • editorwatch says:
    November 3, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    Can you point us to the specific reference re this service being available for AT&T BlackBerry customers? Your update says it’s for both iPhone and BB users; the AT&T release says “other smartphones in the future.” Thanks.

  • Gadgetress says:
    November 4, 2008 at 4:26 am

    Hi editorwatch — The mention of free Wi-Fi for BlackBerry users came in a separate e-mail to me from AT&T. Here’s what it said:

    AT&T BLACKBERRY CUSTOMERS TO RECEIVE FREE ACCESS TO NATION’S LARGEST WI-FI NETWORK
    DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2008 —There are now 17,000 more reasons for smart shoppers to buy a smartphone from AT&T. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced it will begin offering free AT&T Wi-FiSM service to current and new customers of select smartphones, including the new BlackBerry® BoldTM, available Nov. 4. AT&T has the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network, with more than 17,000 hot spots including Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and thousands of other locations.

    AT&T is offering the free Wi-Fi service to customers with unlimited data plans. In addition to the BlackBerry Bold, the BlackBerry® PearlTM 8120 and the BlackBerry® 8820 will follow later this year, and AT&T plans to make the offer available to more mobile devices in the future. Additional details, including instructions on how to access the hot spots, are available at http://www.attwifi.com.

    – Gadgetress