AT&T WiFi access now listed as "included" with iPhone

We're not exactly sure what was going on with that whole on-again / off-again love affair with iPhones having gratis access to AT&T WiFi hotspots, but we're content with letting bygones be bygones. On the slightly tweaked iPhone "Plans" page, the carrier now lists "Access to AT&T WiFi hotspots" as an included feature along with call forwarding, 3-way calling and Caller ID. Sure, it's not a bona fide press release, but same difference, right?

[Via MacRumors]

Update: Oh, ha, it's gone again. We have a feeling it'll be back soon enough though.

[dazepro @ May 8th 2008 8:33AM]

I am all for this, but it kind of seems unfair to the rest of AT&T's customer base who actually have to pay for Wi-Fi access.

[Chuck @ May 8th 2008 8:50AM]

A private company can do whatever they like, whether we like it or not.

[roach @ May 8th 2008 9:03AM]

Well AT&T was a public company last time I checked...

[dara @ May 8th 2008 9:06AM]

iPhone user do pay for it -- an extra $20/month for any plan we choose. It should have never been a question that we have access to hotspots.

[Erwos @ May 8th 2008 9:04AM]

They're publicly-traded, not publicly-owned.

[mike @ May 8th 2008 10:00AM]

Publicly traded means publicly owned. To further your education try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_company

[catachip @ May 8th 2008 11:13AM]

@ mike

That may very well be true from a technical standpoint, but, for most of the world a "public" company means one owned (at least arms length) by the government. For example, the Post Office and the Mint in the U.S., and most water and electricity companies in Canada.

We don't need to get hung up on this, but, the difference between public and private companies in the minds of most people is separate from the dictionary definition.

[CraigJ @ May 8th 2008 12:02PM]

@mike True. and as an AT&T and Apple shareholder I say screw 'em if they don't have an iPhone.

[Jeebus @ May 8th 2008 12:10PM]

@mike: You're a moron if you don't understand the difference. Even your link to the Wikipedia article makes a distinction.

[crow610 @ May 8th 2008 1:18PM]

@dara

the iPhone is not the only phone with a data plan FYI.

[tenaciousJk @ May 8th 2008 8:34AM]

What I'm not gettng here is the cap on text messaging. Each plan should increase - at least a little bit... with the unlimited plan being UNLIMIITED.

[Todd @ May 8th 2008 9:27AM]

( tiny, 4 point, light gray text at the bottom )"....Unlimited data limited to 2 GB a month..."

Orwellian double-speak I HAZ IT

[Mike @ May 8th 2008 9:49AM]

Personally I think SMS should be considered data. Therefore it would be unlimited and there wouldn't be a problem. However this is a way the company makes a lot of money and there is no way they will give up this money making segment for a LONG time.

[tenaciousJk @ May 8th 2008 4:17PM]

Well, I get the small print for unlimited states it's capped. If you're doing 2gb of youtube video's a month on your phone - kudo's to having more time to waste than most of us :)

As for the SMS being capped... I still can't get my head around it. SMS /is/ data. I understand they're making money off of it per message, but if I emailed (using only slightly more bandwidth) they lose that revenue.

Basically - I'm just venting because I think it's dumb and it annoys me. Bare with me here...

[Nick M. @ May 8th 2008 5:13PM]

they used to limit the SMS because it was a way to make people add the extra texts add-on because there was no IM client. But now as we saw during the SDK meeting, AIM has a client that will run on the iPhone and make use of that "unlimited to a point" data plan.

[bob cobb @ May 8th 2008 8:36AM]

part of what has kept me from getting an iphone(other than having no 3g) is their $$$ plans. I can't force myself to pay DOUBLE what I pay for a sprint sero plan, with even less options. That might be a little hard to do once apple comes out with the 3g phone though. I guess I'll have to see how disappointing the htc raphael is

[TJ @ May 8th 2008 8:40AM]

I honestly don't see the big deal here. I guess it's nice if you're wanting a song from the iTunes store, (while you're there) but unless I'm using a laptop, I don't usually do a lot of surfing at the local Starbucks.

[Mike @ May 8th 2008 8:43AM]

The idea is that you're there (likely at a table), and you want to look something up online or check your email. Rather then go over edge, you get nice quick access over wifi.

There is of course the additional benefit of being able to download music while you're there too, but I don't see myself ever doing that.

[dazepro @ May 8th 2008 8:57AM]

@Mike & TJ Could it be that possibly AT&T's network is slowly getting overloaded on EDGE and quite possibly worried about it's 3G network getting overloaded, so they figure if they can get customers to use Wi-Fi it might take a little strain off the network(s)?

[Cycomachead @ May 8th 2008 9:25AM]

Also, you can still use your laptop with this. You'll just need to sign up on the iPhone and use it's number. Not to mention, Safari can spoof sites into thinking it's an iPhone.

[roflercopterer @ May 8th 2008 8:54AM]

As familiar as I am with cell phone company language, access to hotspots wouldn't necessarily mean free access to hotspots.

[aliasm @ May 8th 2008 10:12AM]

It definitely means "included." Look at the context. Do they pay extra for "Nation Wide Long Distance and Roaming"? How about "3-way calling"?

The answer is no, they do not.

The wifi access is included in their data plan, just like the other calling features are included in their voiceplan.

[roflercopterer @ May 10th 2008 11:26AM]

Yes access is included...but access at what price?

Verizon was able to argue that unlimited access didn't mean unlimited use at that price. They said they weren't deceptive because you always had access, you just had to pay more after 4 GB.

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 8th 2008 8:56AM]

It's crying time again for those that don't have iPhones. Unfair, discrimination, cheated, biased against non-iPhone users. I believe there were other companies that offered incentives for purchasing certain level or select products. Cash back incentives or free gas for a year (auto). If you don't buy a model or product that isn't covered for the incentives, that's your choice. I think that's a method used by companies to move certain slow-moving or overstocked products.

If people want free WiFi then all they have to do is purchase an iPhone. How is that unfair? Is it even that much of a savings to beef about?

[Mobile Phone Diva @ May 8th 2008 9:57AM]

I've heard AT&T DSL users are supposed to be in on the free wifi deal too.

[steve @ May 9th 2008 4:42PM]

i have AT&T, and have at tilt. the HSDPA is soo fast i don't need "wifi" or "hotspots" for my intarwebs to load quickly. A&T is not discriminating, they are just trying to make up for the iphone's crappiness

[timurray2000 @ May 8th 2008 9:22AM]

I called AT&T the other day to add unl text to my family plan (2 iPhones, 2 regular phones) and specifically asked them if this would cover the iPhones...they said YES. I asked them to verify with another employee, and they also said YES.

[jeremy @ May 8th 2008 10:15AM]

@ mobile phone diva - yes. top tier dsl customers get free wifi at at&t hot spots.

@timmurray2000 - you are correct. unlimited family message package cover any phone on the family plan. even though the iphone does not have mms, it can use unlimited text.

[Quake97 @ May 8th 2008 9:33AM]

Does "access" really mean free? They may just be saying that iPhone uses have access to use their hotspots, but not freely.

[Killshot @ May 8th 2008 10:00AM]

How about those of us who are on a PDA unlimited data plan. We pay $10 more per month than the iPhone data plan. Why don't we get the wifi access included with our monthly service as well?

[shelbygt33 @ May 8th 2008 10:51AM]

To whomever is paying $120 and only gets 200 SMS messages - Why???

That's ridiculous and I'd never go for it. Part of the reason I don't want an iPhone is the outrageous cost of the plans that go along with it. My BlackBerry isn't as fancy or neat-o, but I get more bang for my buck.

[CraigJ @ May 8th 2008 12:10PM]

Really? You get unlimited voice and unlimited data for less? Who's your carrier? Sprint?

[Aquen @ May 8th 2008 11:01AM]

Has the mention of 3G under Data Access always been there? It reads:

Data Access

In order to use data such as email, Google Maps, YouTube videos and web browsing, AT&T recommends using iPhone in a 3G or EDGE Network (coverage viewer), or from a local Wi-Fi connection.




Seems odd to me that they would say AT&T recommends 3G considering the current model does not have a 3G modem.

[CraigJ @ May 8th 2008 12:08PM]

I'm thinking that little bit slipped through. It's OK, people in marketing can't be expected to understand that technical stuff...

[Andrew A. @ May 8th 2008 3:11PM]

Looks like they removed it.

[CraigJ @ May 8th 2008 5:35PM]

Still there...

[Yuri @ May 8th 2008 4:32PM]

You know, I've never looked at AT&T's pricing until now.

Holy shit is that expensive. I get more on a $40/mo plan than they do on a $60/mo plan.

Provided my phone is obviously not a smart phone, the idea of paying $60/mo and not even get night and weekend minutes scares me.

[fiochmhar_rc @ May 8th 2008 6:22PM]

I am so all over this. Here in Canada on Rogers (i.e., GSM), the best deal we have involving data is $65 (current conversion is $63.90 USD) per month MINIMUM for just 1GB of data and nothing else (i.e., NO airtime, NO texts; JUST the data). And that's just for PC cards. If you want it on a device, the next best deal is $100 for 1GB, and that's only good for use on a Windows Mobile Device.

Don't forget the system access fees!

I am so in love with this.
Seriously.
So much.
Jealous jealous jealous.

[drew.oghs @ May 8th 2008 10:43PM]

Does anyone know if iPod Touch users will be able to use these hot spots for free?

[aliasm @ May 9th 2008 9:52AM]

I'm guessing that will be available when they become At&t customers.

[Stefan @ May 9th 2008 12:04AM]

It's not listed under features on the ATT site any longer!

[Joe @ May 11th 2008 11:33PM]

AT&T appears to be a big lethargic beast of a company that can barely keep up with itself ... making foolish marketing mistakes and missteps. I suggest they change their name to Cingular and hire someone who knows what they're doing with regard to product announcements and planning.