AT&T sending out SMS to confirm free iPhone WiFi at Starbucks

Oh, so you know what's hot, huh AT&T? Is flipping the on / off lever back and forth a gazillion times on this finicky Starbucks iPhone WiFi plan hot? Because it feels downright cold over here. While we can only hope and pray that this is the signal to finally close the book on this ridiculous saga, AT&T users all over the US are receiving text messages from AT&T confirming that free Starbucks WiFi (for iPhone owners) is on. Reportedly, the message indicates that their iPhone purchase gives them access to two hours of gratis use per day, though we'd go in with the lowest possible expectations in order to not be let down (again). Good luck, mettlesome ones.

[Thanks, Boy Genius]

[Hush @ Oct 29th 2008 1:36PM]

Not too shabby.

[SimbaDogg @ Oct 29th 2008 8:47PM]

yeah, this would be great for all the the "crippled" non 3g iphones , but for all the iphone 3G users out there...who cares. I mean, unless you're stuck in a Edge only market, why bother to bound yourself to the confines of a starbucks and blow cash that you dont to spend, or hang around w/ a bunch of teenage kids when you can surf @ at 100kb/sec+ in some HDPSA areas?

and on a side note, one of these days i'm going to bring my big ass desktop (Antec P180 case and samsung t240hd monitor) into a starbucks to enjoy a cup of brew. I've seen a few funny pics of people bringing in desktops and i love it.

[sr @ Oct 29th 2008 11:37PM]

100kb/sec? I get up to 1655kbps on my speedtests.

[nerdtalker @ Oct 29th 2008 1:37PM]

Then again, if you could tether your iPhone, you wouldn't really ever need ubiquitous cafe WiFi to get you through the day.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 29th 2008 1:55PM]

Actually I think it's the other way 'round. It's so you can use WiFi on your iPhone instead of slow-ass EDGE or somewhat faster 3G. Obviously you can use WiFi with your laptop too though.

I'm just having a hard time getting excited about buying a new iPhone. At least the cost is reasonable, but the EDGE rarely bothers me because I'm usually at home or work where I have wifi, or I'm just browsing the news where I don't really need the speed.

Looks like my employer *might* buy me a 3G though -- "free" is a pretty damn good deal...

[who? @ Oct 29th 2008 2:01PM]

HA! I got Netshare before it was pulled from the app store!!! Tether, away!!!

Too bad I have an iPod Touch...

[Dan @ Oct 29th 2008 2:19PM]

I tether my iPhone all the time using iPhoneModem, but it's a jailbreak app.

[Jeff @ Oct 29th 2008 2:31PM]

Actually I suggest getting PDANet for your jailbroken iPhone...it doesn't require SOCKS proxies to get working so it works on both Macs and PCs flawlessly with less than 2 minutes of setup.

Its on Cydia

[TheNewmanDynasty @ Oct 29th 2008 1:38PM]

So what happens if you're not even on AT&T's plan or network?

Like for instance I'm on Sprint and I have the Touch Pro. Whenever I go to Starbucks (which is like every other day if not everyday) I do sometimes chill with friends, etc.

Now my TP does see the wireless network there. However I've not connected to it out of fear that I would be charged some money. Would that be the case? Or would I simply be blocked from accessing the Wi-Fi since it would recognize that it's a Sprint phone?

[CraigJ @ Oct 29th 2008 1:45PM]

Starbucks *iPhone* WiFi plan

[sygyzy @ Oct 29th 2008 1:51PM]

You can't be serious.

[TheNewmanDynasty @ Oct 29th 2008 2:17PM]

Why am I getting voted down?

It was an honest question. I wouldn't have inquired if I ALREADY knew smartass.

Jesus Christ we're not all experts. Sorry for not being all knowing when it comes to this subject.

Assholes.

[Kamokazi @ Oct 29th 2008 2:41PM]

I am really not sure why you are being voted down either....your post asks a valid, if somewhat trivial, question.

No, you cannot be billed simply by connecting to any wifi network...have no fear there. You would just be presented with the usual 'proxy' page if you tried to visit any website before forking over some credit card details to pay for temporary access. You may want to look into buying a hotspot prepaid card or monthly plan from ATT/T-mobile/whoever so you can access the internet cheaper when in a Statbucks. You would just get a username/pw to login with at that point. The same thing applies to laptops.

[TheNewmanDynasty @ Oct 29th 2008 2:44PM]

Thanks

[Matt @ Oct 29th 2008 5:06PM]

You should be able to get free AT&T WiFi access if you subscribe to their DSL or Uverse service as well. BTW, does anyone know if you can use subaccounts for that or just the main one? What if you try to log in with two devices at once?

[happy_penguin @ Oct 29th 2008 6:49PM]

a) It was a silly question, no big deal just kind of ignorant.

b) Your subsequent rant and name calling sealed the deal. You are low ranked for being a complete twunt. :)

[HOOPER @ Oct 29th 2008 8:55PM]

You got voted down because this is free WiFi for iPhones. Your Touch Pro is not an iPhone.

[Hush @ Oct 29th 2008 1:38PM]

What about my 1.0.2 jail broken jalopy(pretty snappy actually)? Will that work there too?

[Hush @ Oct 29th 2008 1:40PM]

I'm limping along on a 2G 4gig dented iPhone. And I'm doin just fine. I would like to jail/SIM unlock it to the newest firmware. Is that possible? Oh I beg of a kind person to link me to a easy tutorial on how to do it. :D

+1 in advance

[wctodd @ Oct 29th 2008 3:12PM]

Jailbreaking/SIM Unlocking a 2G version is simple just use the QuickPwn or PawnageTool applications by the iphone-dev team

[CraigJ @ Oct 29th 2008 1:42PM]

For reals this time? Really? I'll believe it when it stays on for more than a day.

[cwj @ Oct 29th 2008 1:57PM]

Selling the heat generated by a wi-fi radio as a feature is innovative indeed. It is kinda chilly in NYC this week...

[nelagster @ Oct 29th 2008 1:44PM]

wait how is it JUST for the iphone? shouldn't it be for any wifi enabled phone on the AT&T network?

[ak @ Oct 29th 2008 2:32PM]

the bold will have this as well (free at&t wifi access).

[Dude @ Oct 29th 2008 1:48PM]

too bad they couldn't have sent that out as a mms with that cute little picture to go with it

[Justin Ried @ Oct 29th 2008 1:52PM]

Not just Starbucks, but any AT&T WiFi access point (including airports, etc). Very cool.

[iphone returner @ Oct 29th 2008 1:56PM]

Who needs WiFi when you have blazing 3G speed and no drop-offs??!

[waiownsyou @ Oct 29th 2008 1:58PM]

Why, those who don't get continuous 3G coverage from AT&T and no drop-offs, aka everyone.

[Alex @ Oct 29th 2008 2:00PM]

Me.

[Dan @ Oct 29th 2008 2:21PM]

I'm more than happy with the 3G performance of the iPhone in the twin cities metro area. WiFi ends up being more of a hassle than it's worth (with start pages you have to click through in a browser, etc).

[Oshi @ Oct 29th 2008 1:58PM]

Okay, so what about the rest of us paying for AT&T's overpriced unlimited data? No free WiFi for us? Jerks.

Tch, whatevs, the HSPDA connection to my Tilt is probably faster...

[Mike @ Oct 29th 2008 3:27PM]

Overpriced? By buying it, you basically agreed that it was priced just right.

[Heywood @ Oct 29th 2008 2:00PM]

So I go to www.att.com/wifi and I don't see anything about iPhone at all.

I have an iPhone, I walk into an ATT Hotspot, then what? There's no instructions on their site.

[CraigJ @ Oct 29th 2008 2:15PM]

wrong url.

try this: http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/internet/wifi.jsp

[rishi @ Oct 29th 2008 2:02PM]

Any starbucks card holder/member has access to 2 hours per day. The fact that's its Iphone or not is irrelevant, as anyone on any service with a wifi computer or phone can use the wifi if they sign up with the card or club or whatever it is.

Lame.

[CraigJ @ Oct 29th 2008 2:15PM]

maybe I don't want a starbucks card...

[tande @ Oct 29th 2008 2:21PM]

That was my thought as well.

I do this now but I use my laptop, touch, etc.

I guess it saves you the 5 minutes it takes to register a starbucks card.

[totoro @ Oct 30th 2008 12:11AM]

This isn't just Starbucks. It is any ATT WiFi Hotspot.

[TallestAceEver @ Oct 29th 2008 2:10PM]

Is this supposed to be a big deal? I mean honestly, how often do you run around the mall/streets looking for a wifi signal with your iphone? I use 3G more then wifi anyway. Some of my applications get limited with a wifi connection that has some security features on lockdown. Not a big plus to run and get a latte.

[Kali4 @ Oct 29th 2008 2:16PM]

I love how they send you this via text, and then charge you for the text. What a rip!

[Dan @ Oct 29th 2008 2:22PM]

Except that they don't charge you for the text.

[StPaddy @ Oct 29th 2008 2:16PM]

I didn't get the SMS. Does that mean I'm left out? *sad*

[PInoyako @ Oct 29th 2008 2:18PM]

HA! Our friends from AT&T/Apple are doing everything they could to fight back the G1 craze. G1's hotspot access was free since its launch....by the way, I am typing this from Starbucks wifi using my T-Mobile G1....I love it!

[csmitty @ Oct 29th 2008 2:29PM]

I'm happy for you, i'm typing this from my computer and i love it. whats your point?

[7on @ Oct 29th 2008 3:21PM]

It's not free access. It's part of the $35 a month you're paying for.

[Bob @ Oct 29th 2008 4:58PM]

What alternate universe are you living in that you think the G1 is a "craze"? To hardcore gadget geeks/readers of Engadget maybe, but not to the rest of the world.

[rob @ Oct 29th 2008 2:31PM]

http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/internet/accessing-wifi.jsp

[Chad @ Oct 29th 2008 2:33PM]

If you have ATT DSL or U-Verse you should be able to use any ATT WIFI hotspot gratis using your login credentials and any WIFI enabled device.

[Kali4 @ Oct 29th 2008 2:37PM]

right from att's website:

Q. What messages am I billed for?

A. AT&T bills for all messages whether sent or received, read or unread, solicited or unsolicited. Also, any message sent or received that is longer than 160 characters will be delivered as multiple segments of up to 160 characters each. Each segment is billed as a separate message.


http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/messaging-internet/messaging/faq.jsp#pricing-text

[Andrew @ Oct 29th 2008 2:51PM]

This does not apply to some free messages from AT&T themselves (which usually say so, even)