Verizon begins offering free Wi-Fi to its mobile broadband users
December 15th, 2009, 12:30 pm · 9 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
If you’re a Verizon Wireless customer who pays a chunk of change each month for mobile broadband, Verizon is now tossing in access to its 11,000 Wi-Fi hotspots for no extra charge.
Verizon already offers free Wi-Fi to its FiOS subscribers, plus its DSL customers who spend $30 a month on service. See the earlier story, “Verizon offers some customers a bonus: Free Wi-Fi.”
Verizon hotspots include some Starbucks stores, Barnes & Noble bookstores, several hotels and more. There are nearly 1,000 places within 50 miles of The Register’s headquarters that offer Verizon Wi-Fi service. Here’s a link to Verizon’s hotspot finder: verizonwireless.com/wi-fi
To qualify, you need either a monthly Mobile Broadband account or a GlobalAccess plan. You also need a Verizon-supported device, which is either a USB modem, PC Card, ExpressCard, the Verizon MiFi portable hotspot, or a netbook or notebook. Here is a list of qualified devices: www.vzam.net.
Verizon isn’t the only one offering free Wi-Fi to its customers.
AT&T has been a leader of free Wi-Fi for its customers. It offers free Wi-Fi access at its hotspots to iPhone customers and home broadband users. It recently added 25,000 more hotspots around the globe. See the earlier story, “25,000 more places for Wi-Fi (if you’re with AT&T).”
AT&T also offers free Wi-Fi to anyone at Barnes & Noble stores. See earlier story, “Free Wi-Fi at Barnes & Noble for everyone!”
T-Mobile also offers certain customers free access to its Wi-Fi network.
Recent stories on free Wi-Fi:
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I pay $60/mo for Verizon’s mobile broadband? Why would I want to use wifi? Wifi is much less secure. Getting me to use their wifi hotspots only benefits Verizon (because they’re running out of bandwidth of wireless phones). Perhaps this is geared more to the $40/mo customers who only get 250MB/mo.
Did you know that the wireless service that the carriers use is the same band used by the old UHF channels and that all the wireless carriers are reporting that they are running out of room fast. Hence, why they are trying to appeal to computer users to use wifi where possible.
That’s a lot of money per month. Verizon should toss in free Internet for your home or make your connection twice as fast.
I don’t understand. I have ATT cell service with internet access, and I also have Verizon at home with FiOS. Does this mean that if I go to Starbucks (I seldom do), I get to access the internet on my laptop? I have long ago REFUSED to pay for WiFi service at cafe, bookstores, etc. Won’t give ‘em a dime. There are some coffee shops that will give me WiFi if I order a coffee; that’s okay. But there are so many free WiFi locations, and more on the way, that paying for WiFi anywhere is getting outdated. This is why I stopped going to Starbucks a long time ago. Oh, that and the fact that there was NEVER a place to park my butt because of all the college kids doing their homework for HOURS! And one more reason, it really bugs me that they can’t just have sizes called small, medium, and large. Noooo. They gotta be grande, vente, or something like that.
Starbucks has free wifi for 2 hours now.. and if you have ATT at home, you get unlimited wifi
This isn’t free. You have to buy their other service to get this additional access…..?????
It’s not free if you have to pay for another service to get it. Free means that it doesn’t cost anything and has been given without conditions. Very seldom does any company truly offer something for free.
This is what the wireless services call tweaking. They do these free whatevers and see what happens. It the response is good they start doing promotions in that area, if not, no promotions.
It’s how they do their marketing analysis. This is marketing 101…sheeple.
What is a “sheeple?”
There are some places that provide FREE WiFi. The Asian Garden Mall in Westminster, some Golden Spoons, among others. The last time I was at a Starbucks I bought a “medium” coffee and asked if I could log on. I was only there because I wanted to quick go online and do something. I never mind it if I have to buy a coffee, I’ll drink it while I’m online. But the woman/girl said to me internet access was additional paid through my phone using a credit card. It was quite confusing so I passed and did everything I had to on my Blackberry. Sure it was frustrating and took twice as long, but task accomplished. But if they now offer 2 hours free with purchase of a coffee, that’s okay by me. No, it’s not absolutely free, as in, walk in with your laptop, take a table, and hang out for two hours without buying something; that’s just absurd. And anyways, what about the college kids doing their homework taking up all the tables and chairs. Still, I will avoid Starbucks for this reason. Even if I’m meeting someone out on location, I’ll think of anywhere besides Starbucks. No place to sit!
And this just in: “McDonald’s Corp. said Monday that it will soon offer free wireless Internet access at most of its U.S. fast-food restaurants as it tries to broaden its appeal still further.” I haven’t been in a McDonald’s in years. Maybe I’ll return for the coffee and internet. There’s a Mac’s almost every block in some places! Almost like Starbucks, except no college kids taking up all the tables! And I can order coffee and say “medium” instead of venta!