AT&T officially delivers free WiFi to BlackBerry / iPhone users

We thought we'd heard the last of this whole AT&T / Starbucks WiFi deal yesterday, but alas, we were terrifically mistaken. AT&T has come forth today with two fluffy press releases that flesh out the details, and amazingly, there are some inclusions that we weren't made aware of yesterday. For starters, all iPhone / iPhone 3G customers will now have free (and seemingly limitless) access to AT&T WiFi hotspots across the US -- we're talking Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, the whole lot. Additionally, the carrier has welcomed select BlackBerry users -- that's the Bold for now, the Pearl 8120 / 8820 "later this year" -- into the same deal, though the official verbiage mentions that an "unlimited data plan" is required. If you didn't make the cut this time, fret not -- AT&T has plans to invite "more mobile devices" into the fold here shortly.

Read - Free AT&T WiFi on iPhone / iPhone 3G
Read - Free AT&T WiFi on BlackBerry

[iEye @ Oct 30th 2008 11:01AM]

Oh, I wish I were an Apple iPhone 3G,
That is what I truly want to be
'Cause if I were an Apple iPhone 3G
Everyone would be in love... with... meeee!!!!!

[nerdtalker @ Oct 30th 2008 11:32AM]

I think you need to edit the last line to:

Every Engadget editor would be in love... with... meeee!!!!!

[tom @ Oct 30th 2008 11:33AM]

be a little more creative, make your own song =P. Do you think Oscar Meyer will charge you a royalty for doing that?

[Clark H. @ Oct 30th 2008 11:06AM]

User Agent Switcher, anyone?

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/59

Wishful thinking, at least...

[johnmc @ Oct 30th 2008 11:18AM]

The problem with this is that you need to sign in with your phone number to get the free wi-fi link sent via SMS. I took some pics of the process in action yesterday.
http://flickr.com/photos/johnmc/2984219124/

[Clark H. @ Oct 30th 2008 11:26AM]

BLAST! Foiled again!

*sigh*

[Basketcase456 @ Oct 30th 2008 11:09AM]

What about those of us using an AT&T Tilt (or soon an AT&T Fuze). Why don't we get any of the WiFi love?

[Peter @ Oct 30th 2008 11:16AM]

probably just needs a software update that hasn't been written yet

[tom @ Oct 30th 2008 11:38AM]

That's because iPhone has been hogging most of the 3g data capacity. By shuffing some of them wifi, which MAY free up some space. (how significant is that, i don't know)

Help somewhat, yes.

[Pikl @ Oct 30th 2008 11:09AM]

Yes, because everyone knows that the only phones capable of using Wifi are Blackberry Bolds and iPhones. Ugh. Go to hell, AT&T.

[iEye @ Oct 30th 2008 11:11AM]

all other phones are crap

end communication.

[SimbaDogg @ Oct 30th 2008 11:14AM]

why not make it a trifecta and throw in WinMo phones?

@iEye
"all other phones are crap

end communication.
Add your comments"
i just copied and pasted this using my winmo phone, shuttup, you're a clown. U sheep disgust me

[Godfail @ Oct 30th 2008 11:56AM]

Wow, you're really missing the point here: Those using a Bold or iPhone are paying for 3G service...which means it is actually cheaper for AT&T to let them roam around on their WiFi network....think about it.

WinMo isn't bad, it's just seriously outdated right now.

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 30th 2008 11:12AM]

What exactly does happen when someone uses any other device with a wifi connection? How do they know that I'm holding a Blackberry or an iPhone?

[iEye @ Oct 30th 2008 11:15AM]

IMEI tracking

[Dale @ Oct 30th 2008 4:18PM]

How to detect an iPhone...

if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('iPhone') > - 1) {alert("You have an iPhone!");}

Assuming the comment engine doesn't break my JS.

[BratPAQ @ Oct 30th 2008 11:37AM]

i dont know about SB in US, but here in most part of asia, SB has been offering free wifi to any wifi enabled devices like PSP, PDA, and cellphones. and not only SB, even other coffee shops like coffee bean and san francisco cafe.

[BJ is Gooder @ Oct 30th 2008 11:50AM]

Thanks for the heads up Engadget! I've been waiting for this since I picked up my 3G!

[dlem28 @ Oct 30th 2008 11:51AM]

Free WiFi but they overcharge for text messaging. Screw 'em

[IndiaTech @ Oct 30th 2008 4:52PM]

The sign in text message is free...

[McPOW @ Oct 30th 2008 1:08PM]

Pretty cool, also of note, T-Mobile is already doing the same for G1 owners (I think sidekick owners too)...

[element8 @ Oct 30th 2008 2:23PM]

am i reading this correctly, or am i just not paying any attention...

its only free wi-fi if you're an at&t uverse / dsl / high speed internet customer, but if you're just a regular cellular user to have to pay 19.95$ a month?

[Stefan @ Oct 30th 2008 3:51PM]

What ATT wants you to do is connect to their ATT WiFi from your iPhone once. Then, after their SSID has been added to your "list of known wifi networks" on your iPhone, it'd automatically connect to the wifi hotspot whenever you walk by one, which, in New York City, is pretty much at every corner.

That means that whenever your iPhone auto connects to the ATT hotspots, itd completely ditch the 3G connection and use the ATT hotspot, but since you have to login to the ATT hotspot before you can start using it, you'd end up without an internet connection anytime you are in range of an ATT hotspot unless you type in your entire phone number on that site, wait for the text to arrive, click on the link, just to be able to get online. Unless you disable the wifi on your iPhone.

Whichever choice you go with, its a hassle. Good job ATT and Apple. Why does the iPhone ditch the 3G connection if the wifi hotspot you get connected to has no internet connectivity (i.e. when not logged in yet at ATT hot spots)?

[Seth @ Oct 30th 2008 4:48PM]

Why does anyone care about this? Free wi-fi on my iPhone, big deal. The 3G speeds are pretty good, so I'm definitely not going to go out of my way for some free wi-fi.

Now if I got free wi-fi for ANY device I own because I am an iPhone customer, that would be helpful. It would also be similar to what I enjoyed from T-mobile when I had the Dash and Starbucks was using T-Mobile hotspots.

Free wifi access for YOU is useful. Free wi-fi access for my iPhone, I could care less about that. No, I don't care about hacks.

[WixosTrix @ Oct 30th 2008 6:19PM]

Hey how but us AT&T customers that have phones that are branded by our very company, AT&T Tilt, why don't we get first priority?

[WedgeTalon @ Oct 30th 2008 7:38PM]

Maybe I've not been paying attention, but doesn't Starbucks already have free wifi? I kinda thought they started that whole free wifi trend. I'm not a coffee drinker so the only really "trendy" place I frequent is Panera (who does have wifi), so maybe I missed SB changing things up....

[Stuart Friedman @ Oct 31st 2008 11:01AM]

Starbucks was pay wifi until very recently. Theoretically, it is still pay but there is a cavernous size exception (I am not using the word "loophole," because it was intended. Get a Starbuck's card register it online with auto top up and you get 2 hours of free wifi a day.

(Does anyone know if this applies at Canadian Starbucks as well?)