Samsung CL80 will come with three months free Boingo WiFi, oh joy

While we're still waiting for Sammy's 14 megapixel, WiFi-enabled point-and-shoot to make its stateside appearance, it seems it won't be lacking for software when it crosses the pond -- this week, ubiquitous hotspot host Boingo announced that its service will be preinstalled on every new Samsung CL80 and ST5500, and the cameras will come with three free months of use. After that point, you'll still be able to upload your pictures from Starbucks, never fear -- you'll just have to pay $8 monthly for the privilege. PR after the break.

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Samsung Bundles Boingo Wi-Fi with New Digital Camera

Samsung ST5500/CL80 Includes Three Months of Free Boingo Wi-Fi; This Marks Boingo's Foray into Network-Enabled Cameras

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Boingo Wireless, the global leader in Wi-Fi, today announced that Samsung's new Wi-Fi enabled digital cameras will be pre-loaded with Boingo software, allowing customers to connect to 125,000 Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide for on-the-go photo and video sharing.

"Bringing a global Wi-Fi network to owners of the Samsung ST5500/CL80 is a landmark event for Boingo, and we look forward to enabling Samsung photographers all over the world with online sharing capabilities"

Initially, Boingo software will be pre-installed on the Samsung ST5500/CL80 digital camera, and users will be offered three months of complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi access. Support for additional models will be announced as they become available.

The agreement between Boingo and Samsung addresses burgeoning market demand for Internet-capable consumer devices such as cameras. With Wi-Fi connectivity, ST5500/CL80 shutterbugs have the option to instantly share captured moments on social networks such as Facebook and YouTube – directly from the camera. Users easily connect when in a Boingo hotspot by tapping the onscreen Boingo button.

"Samsung understands that the ability to share photos and videos online is an essential aspect of the photography experience," said Choonghyun Hwang, Vice President for Samsung Electronics Co. "The integration of Boingo's intuitive software with the Samsung ST5500/CL80 enables our users to upload their captured moments via a high-speed connection anywhere in the world, without being tethered to a PC."

"Bringing a global Wi-Fi network to owners of the Samsung ST5500/CL80 is a landmark event for Boingo, and we look forward to enabling Samsung photographers all over the world with online sharing capabilities," said Dave Hagan, president and CEO of Boingo Wireless. "With the avalanche of consumer electronics devices like cameras that are being network-enabled, there will be an explosion in demand for this type of connectivity, and Samsung is leading the charge."

Boingo and Samsung collaborated closely to develop a seamless connectivity experience on the Samsung ST5500/CL80, a compact point-and-shoot camera with heavyweight features, including 14.2 megapixel image quality, HD video recording, premium lens, a touch-screen keypad, and of course Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless options.

The Samsung ST5500/CL80 digital camera with Boingo pre-installed is available in most regions worldwide; U.S. availability will be announced in the near future. Customers receive the first three months of Boingo free through a simple registration process at www.boingo.com/samsung. After the promotion period, customers have the option to subscribe to Boingo Mobile, a $7.95 monthly plan for unlimited Wi-Fi access to 125,000 locations worldwide.

[nando2323 Posted May 13th 2010 4:01PM]

Wow boingo is the worst wireless service ever what a poc. I was traveling over the last week, and everywhere i went it was so damn slow and all the pictures look compressed also. Never again Boingo never again!

[Floppy Posted May 13th 2010 4:08PM]

This Boingo service sounds tenuous and dated.

I don't see it going very far.

[Yeria Posted May 13th 2010 4:09PM]

Boingo?

I wouldn't sign up with them just 'cause of their name.
Imagine having to say "Hey, I'm on the Boingo network!"

That's just silly...o.o

[MEH Posted May 13th 2010 4:10PM]

lame

[rhackin Posted May 13th 2010 4:29PM]

Srsly? Boingo? $8 per month? There are so many reasons to why this idea is 100% fail. It actually hurts my brain less to calculate the vastness of the universe than it does to try to find a logical reason Samsung would invest resources in this project.

[Tumbleweed Posted May 13th 2010 4:36PM]

Samsung - we'll add any and every feature we can to our cameras except the ability to take good photos in anything other than the perfect conditions.

[TZ Bill Posted May 13th 2010 5:17PM]

Samsung must have let the Marketing Weasels drive the bus for a while.

I travel nearly constantly and take hundreds of photos a month. Nobody is a better target consumer for an internet connected camera than me. I would not pay $8.00 a month for "camera connectivity" if I had Bill Gates money.

[shorty6049 Posted May 13th 2010 6:53PM]

I miss the times when I used to be able to buy something and not have to keep paying for services month after month....

[SpeedyJDK Posted May 13th 2010 7:52PM]

Had the Samsung ST5500 for about a month now. It's amazing :P
So nice it just emails pics, so we never have to connect the thing :)

[Rudolphe22 Posted May 13th 2010 10:06PM]

So... Do i have to pay a monthly service fee to upload from my home wireless network too?