AT&T offers free WiFi to Southern California residents affected by wildfires

As the wildfires in Southern California rage on for a second straight week, residents struggling to connect with family members and friends are getting a little help from AT&T -- the company has decided to give away free WiFi at all of its wireless hotspots in the area. The hotspots in Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange and Ventura counties are all open without restriction and have been since Saturday -- a generous move by AT&T (regardless of the speculation regarding the company's motives), and hopefully one that will allow those affected to get in touch with their loved ones.

[Boynamedsue @ Oct 29th 2007 12:20PM]

thats a big improvement over charging fire victims when they cancelled accounts and were unable to return the hardware.

[paul34 @ Oct 29th 2007 3:58PM]

They'll probably provide free WiFi so long as the family:

Signs a five year contract and buys an iPhone with their special ATT Visa

[Roberto @ Oct 29th 2007 12:23PM]

AT&T should at least throttle the per-user bandwidth, if they don't want their hotspot network DOS'd soon.

[lpvezzetti @ Oct 29th 2007 12:24PM]

With the computers that were saved in the nick of time before the houses were burn't to a crisp... Man am I glad I snagged my laptop, too bad though I didn't have time to grab the dog or cat.

[Jason @ Oct 29th 2007 1:07PM]

The people that can use this service will be happy about it, don't knock on ATT for doing something nice.

[Cupajo @ Oct 29th 2007 1:32PM]

I wouldn't knock them for doing something nice if it hadn't been done as a result of public backlash after doing something evil.

1. Family loses everything they own in fire (including a piece of equipment they rent from evil giant company.

2. Evil giant company tells family they owe $300 and no, they can't have more time to pay the bill; no, they can't at least wait until insurance check comes in. Said $300 bill needs to be paid promptly if family doesn't want to face DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

3. Story gets some press. Evil company gets tons of calls, emails, etc.

4. Evil company, in an attempt to massage some good PR out of their evilness, offers free service to those affected.



Seriously. Fuck AT&T.

[ethana2 @ Oct 29th 2007 3:30PM]

The dog can follow you out. If I had a $4000 tablet PC, you can bet your behind I'd grab it on my way out. Call me a nerd (or just another engadget reader) but that thing would have years of pictures, videos, typed documents, etc. on it.

Besides my PC, I prefer to keep my surroundings quite minimalist.

[wrxpert @ Oct 29th 2007 12:31PM]

This sounds like an attempt at good PR without risking to have to really give out too much service.

[Tom @ Oct 29th 2007 12:31PM]

This gives new meaning to "hot spots"

[matt @ Oct 29th 2007 12:33PM]

it sure does...lol

[John @ Oct 29th 2007 12:48PM]

it's nice to see that capitalism can still inspire companies to do nice things.

[nike @ Oct 29th 2007 12:53PM]

The issue I have with this, is that the ATT hotspots are so few and far between. MCd's ,used to be UPS stores, SOME borders, that is about it.

Not very convenient at all. As well, if you are an ATT DSL or dialup customer, it is free anyway.

[fobunited @ Oct 29th 2007 12:57PM]

It's still better than nothing right?

[trevor @ Oct 30th 2007 1:27AM]

...because McDonald's are few and far between?

[Chris @ Oct 29th 2007 1:07PM]

You mean they have PR hearts.

[maina231 @ Oct 29th 2007 1:10PM]

PR for public relations or press release ??

[Alex @ Oct 29th 2007 1:17PM]

t-mobile hotspots in Starbucks in Southern California have been free since early last week... this isn't new.

[waiownsyou @ Oct 29th 2007 1:24PM]

So basically, your house has to burn to the ground before you get free Internet in this country? Weaksauce.

[toyotaboy @ Oct 29th 2007 1:42PM]

I smell suckup!

[a @ Oct 29th 2007 2:20PM]

seriously, can someone tell me what company you guys DON'T think is evil?

AT&T has and will always be a first repsonder in all disasters. seems like any time a company tries to do the right thing they get lambasted for trying to play pr moves.

the bad press regarding the rented equipment is a bunch of hot air. you know the call center agents aren't assigned the authority to make calls like that, it takes time for authorizations and such to move downhill to the billing side of the house in ANY company.

[Bob @ Oct 29th 2007 3:03PM]

you are a genius ....

[Mike @ Oct 29th 2007 2:28PM]

WIFI... WIldFIres.... I think it's a conspiracy!

[ethana2 @ Oct 29th 2007 3:35PM]

...I'm watching you, Wazowski... Always watching.

[Johnny5 @ Oct 29th 2007 2:55PM]

What - am I supposed to forget you guys are STILL giving the NSA access to all of our internet traffic AND trying to buy your way out of it?

[ethana2 @ Oct 29th 2007 3:32PM]

Dude, it's called 256 bit AES and TOR.

[aidin @ Oct 29th 2007 5:43PM]

socal starbuckses are also offering free t-mobile hotspot wifi till the 31st... spread the good word!

[01 @ Oct 29th 2007 6:29PM]

In other news, AT&T turns over internet usage records of customers in the SoCal region after they used AT&T's (democracy)Free WiFi. Those who were not citizens were deported, those who criticized the state and national government are missing and presumed detained.

[Brad @ Oct 29th 2007 7:15PM]

I live in Santa Barbara and connected to an ATT hotspot today (from my HTC Mogul) - I got the standard sign-in option, none of it showing "free" as my connection price. Anyone else actually TRY this?