McDonald's no longer offering free WiFi to DS users

It's a crying shame (okay, not really), but the long-standing availability of free WiFi to Nintendo DS users in Mickey D's is now over. Apparently the contract that enabled the access has expired, and there's no signs of a renewal happening in the US or Canada. Of course, if you're incredibly desperate to kick some tires online while treating yourself to a supersize medium order of fries and a vanilla cone, you can fetch the Nintendo DS web browser add-on or WiFi USB Connector from the second-hand market and carry on. We, however, see this as a perfect excuse to avoid the temptations that lurk underneath the Golden Arches.

[Via DS Fanboy]

[They_Call_Me_Mr_BeeChees @ May 29th 2008 9:39AM]

Hmmm, i didn't even know that McD's wifi was free for DS, seeing as i stopped going to McD's when the McFlurry stopped being affordable..

[Mike @ May 29th 2008 10:10AM]

Frosty + Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger FTW

[BobTurbo @ May 29th 2008 10:29AM]

McFlurry is the only reason I go too.

[Pochi @ May 29th 2008 11:04AM]

@Mike

Obesity FTW.

[Chris @ May 29th 2008 5:33PM]

We made sure that McDonalds was considered to be a good "bathroom" to our little boy. He is now 5 y/o and he tells his friends at school he hates McDonalds and that it is only a bathroom for us while we are on the road. (When a company spends billions trying to influence my kid, anything is fair game......... )
Besides, who can eat that crap anyway. It is horrid. A teenager drops a burger or bun and brushes it off..... sneezes on it..... they don't give a crap about what they are making.......if you complain you get a nice spitburger or worse. Some will do this just to be funny. They places stink and I wouldn't want to get sick.

So, no WiFi.......who cares.

[Wyze @ May 29th 2008 9:39AM]

That Sux

[JAmerican @ May 29th 2008 9:41AM]

So does the quality of McDonald's food but you don't see me complaining.

[martin @ May 29th 2008 9:40AM]

as far as im aware all the uk mcdonalds have free wifi, weird they dont in america... but since i only use teh drive through its not much use

[tell-all @ May 29th 2008 9:50AM]

We never had wi-fi here in this end of Canada at McDonalds but Subway does. When I asked the manager about it, he looked at me as if I was off my rocker...why would I want that, everyone would be sitting around and not buying anything.

As far as I was concerned, the menu and choices now suck in Canada and so far behind their competitors and that is the problem, not having wi-fi. So managers need to be trained for this generation and it is all about communication in menu and public responses to what they want.

[Dan @ May 29th 2008 12:44PM]

Ha. That's funny 'cos most kids in McDonalds in the UK do just sit around without buying anything. I don't think they're using the free wi-fi either.

I was in a Burger King a couple of months ago, went to the toilets to find a couple of kids hanging out in there drinking some beers. Kids got nowhere else to go!

[Idlemind @ May 29th 2008 9:48AM]

The McDonalds near my job has WiFi....but it ain't free.... wtf?

[TavisJohn @ May 29th 2008 11:23AM]

It was only free for Nintendo DS Devices. NOT PDA's, laptops and other devices.

[zunq @ May 29th 2008 9:58AM]

F*ck Dat, I'm going to WackArnold's. At least they have free wifi.... and hoes.

[CubeGuy @ May 29th 2008 10:02AM]

Wait, if I'm reading this article right, the McDonalds' WiFi didn't require the Opera browser to surf the web?

[Gaz @ May 29th 2008 10:07AM]

Not to use the Nintendo WiFi Network in games like Mario Kart.

The Internet can be used for more than porn these days.

[egotman @ May 29th 2008 10:13AM]

I like how the picture shows 20 something chicks playing DS and not the prepubescent male market it is targetted at.

Creepy... looks ronny mac is trying to pimp them out to the even creepier looking Mario.

[Michael Chastain @ May 29th 2008 6:19PM]

What are you talking about? I just bought a DS for my 50 something MIL for Mother's Day (it's what she requested) and now my SIL who's almost 23 wants one. My sister who is 25 has had one for years, and I'm considering getting one for my mother (my parents love the Wii I gave them).

[egotman @ May 29th 2008 10:13AM]

I like how the picture shows 20 something chicks playing DS and not the prepubescent male market it is targetted at.

Creepy... looks ronny mac is trying to pimp them out to the even creepier looking Mario.

[Steve Howe @ May 29th 2008 10:21AM]

Well time to go to McDowell's and get a BigMick!

[PowerHouse @ May 29th 2008 10:31AM]

You know, it's one thing to offer WiFi at a Starbucks, where you might actually WANT to hang, chat and access the internet... but at McD's??? With all the snot-nosed little brats crying for more fries, who the hell wants to hang there longer than it takes to get your order and bail?

Granted it was geared towards kids and their DS's... but still.

[Alexander @ May 29th 2008 10:45AM]

Been just over 6 months of not eating McDonalds (Trust me, its harder than it sounds) and I think I am through the worst of it. I still eat other fast/junk foods, but the longest journey starts with the first step. I don't have a house yet, so I have no place to really cook large meals and plan out weeks of shopping at the store.

It is addictive, for sure. Anybody who says it isn't is just plain stupid. I just have to remind myself that I have plenty of 90% lean burger at home and I can make a burger as easily (and far, far cheaper) than MCD can. And to have a salad with it. And don't make it a double. :P

[Low Ranked @ May 29th 2008 1:07PM]

They sprinkle crack on everything in the dollar menu.

Thats why you just keep coming back for more, MickeyD fiend.

[BeyondtheTech @ May 29th 2008 11:10AM]

I can understand completely. Those damn DS's suck terabytes of bandwidth in just one sitting of a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal, it just doesn't pay anymore, even if you Super Size your meal.

[Hooterman @ May 29th 2008 11:12AM]

I get so tired of all the health nuts on the internet that love to post how horrible Mickey D's is. I'm in my mid 20's and I love McD's, so do all of my friends, and none of us are overweight, weird.

[thatkidmattt @ May 29th 2008 11:18AM]

Being over weight is only a part of it...


If your arteries are lined with a nice layer of plaque it really doesn't matter if you are overweight or not.

[chad @ May 29th 2008 1:50PM]

Hey, there is always diabetes to look forward to right?

[Hooterman @ May 29th 2008 2:16PM]

blah blah, you guys enjoy your salads

;)

[thatkidmattt @ May 29th 2008 11:17AM]

Know how I stopped eating McDonalds...


When I was walking buy it on my way back to the dorm from my friends' house, I would just keep walking. It was a novel concept because, not only was I not eating McDonalds, but I was walking as well.

[packetsniffer @ May 29th 2008 11:20AM]

"Of course, if you're incredibly desperate to kick some tires online while treating yourself to a supersize medium order of fries and a vanilla cone, you can fetch the Nintendo DS web browser add-on or WiFi USB Connector from the second-hand market and carry on."
Wait, what? If they quit offering the free WiFi to the DS users, how will getting the web browser add-on or the USB connector help you any?

[Jeff from Knowzy @ May 29th 2008 1:22PM]

There are four ways to get free Wi-Fi at McDonald's. But they all require a web browser.

For example, you can log in free with your AT&T DSL account but you need to enter your e-mail address and password through a web form to sign in.

Of course, a web browser doesn't come standard with the DS. With the Opera browser cartridge you can log in but can't play games. With the USB connector, you can log in on your laptop but that means you need to lug it around with your DS!

Even the paid options for logging on to McDonald's Wi-Fi requires a web browser.

DS'ing at Mickey D just got a lot more complicated!

BTW, follow the photo at the top to learn more than you could possibly ever want to know about McDonald's Wi-Fi, including the four free options.

[Alex R @ May 29th 2008 12:18PM]

McDonalds UK has open WiFi for all customers, regardless of device :)

[whistlepig @ May 29th 2008 1:31PM]

was never free here in york pa . you had to buy minutes

[Timerider @ May 29th 2008 6:56PM]

I never found a McDonalds that offered the free WiFi.

[Jeff from Knowzy @ May 30th 2008 3:02AM]

McDonald's Wi-Fi isn't free, for the most part. Companies like Nintendo make deals to offer free Wi-Fi to its customers.

Right now, AT&T is big on free McDonald's Wi-Fi. Most DSL, all fiber optic and certain LaptopConnect customers can log on at McDonald's and AT&T branded Starbucks without paying more than their monthly bill.

In general, McDonald's Wi-Fi is pay to play. But sometimes a "sugar daddy" comes to your rescue!