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Free T-Mobile Hotspot promotion ends soon
Did you know that PSP owners get free wi-fi access at every T-Mobile HotSpot in the US? Yes, it's true! T-Mobile HotSpots can be found at most Starbucks and Kinkos locations, and they litter most metropolitan areas. We wanted to offer a friendly reminder that free access to the service ends soon: on March 28th. Make sure you register your system before then to try it out! Bring your PSP® system to a location that provides a T-Mobile HotSpot. (Refer to the T-Mobile HotSpot U.S. Location Map.) Select (Network Settings) under (Settings). Select [Infrastructure Mode]. Select [New Connection]. Select [Use Wireless Hotspot]. Select the T-Mobile HotSpot icon. If you have an existing T-Mobile HotSpot account, select [Enter User Credentials].Enter your user ID and password, and then press the right button.orIf you do not have an account, select [Use Promotional Access] to sign up for a complimentary six-month T-Mobile HotSpot account. (To qualify for this promotional access, you must authenticate your PSP® system to the T-Mobile HotSpot network prior to March 28, 2008.) Check the contents of the settings list. Save the settings. [Thanks, Kevin W.!]
Details emerge on T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home "Talk Forever" setup
We've learned that T-Mobile is prepping to roll out trials of the next episode in its HotSpot @Home service, entitled "Talk Forever." What's the diff? Unlike plain vanilla HotSpot @Home, Talk Forever will require custom WiFi routers manufactured specifically for the service; that kinda sucks, we suppose, but in return, the new routers can feed traditional landline phones of your choice by supporting up to two SIM cards internally. Trials will be rolling out in Seattle (T-Mob's home town) and Dallas in February, and it seems that the carrier will be offering the service in both landline / mobile combo and landline-only configurations. Now, here's where it gets a little weird: we just Googled "HotSpot @Home Talk Forever" and stumbled upon www.tiltyourworld.com, a site that appears to be some sort of Talk Forever training site for T-Mobile folk. But guess what? The exact same site was used for training AT&T folk on the Tilt a few months back! What gives? Anyway, follow the break for a quick breakdown on the goods.[Thanks, anonymous tipster]
iBox2Go trumpets portable Sprint EV-DO router
It's not like we haven't seen truckloads of portable WiFi routers before, but iBox2Go seems pretty jazzed up about its iteration. The dubiously named HotSpot in a Box arrives in a relatively large case that's sure to make avid travelers scratch their heads, and looks to include Sprint's Novatel U727 EV-DO card along with all the required cabling. Consumers can select from a trio of routers: the iB100 features USB only and a single Ethernet port, the iB300 adds PCMCIA and the iB500 tacks on an ExpressCard slot, 802.11n support and three more RJ-45 ports. Reportedly, each unit can handle up to ten simultaneous connections, and you can grab one now for $249.99, $199.99 and $349.99, respectively. Oh, and click on through for a video chock full of enthusiasm about this thing.
Ricoh rolls out mobile HotSpot series laser printers
There's already plenty of wireless printer options out there, but those looking for a few more capabilities than your standard offerings provide may want to keep an eye out for Ricoh's new HotSpot series models, which the company says are the first printers that let users "print documents from any Wi-Fi enabled location or device." That, however, is done is a rather roundabout way, with users required to either upload the file to a website associated with the printer or forward the file to the printer's own email address. On the upside, that means you won't have to install any drivers, and you'll be able to print from a handheld or cellphone in addition to a computer. No official word on a price from Ricoh just yet, it seems, but CDW already has the monochrome SP 4100N-KP listed for a cool $1,700, with the color SP C410DN-KP model undoubtedly set to demand a good deal more.
Panasonic, T-Mobile developing first wireless Lumix camera
Details are admittedly scant at the moment, but it appears that Panasonic and T-Mobile are collaborating on some front to develop the first ever wireless Lumix digital camera. If you couldn't guess, the cam will feature integrated access to T-Mobile HotSpot and will give owners the ability to beam images directly to Picasa Web Albums. The elusive Lumix -- which still sports no model number -- will apparently come bundled with a full year of complimentary HotSpot access, but we're told absolutely nothing else specs wise. On that note, we're not even given a clue as to when said camera will launch nor how much it'll run, but at least we've got something to keep an eye out for, right?
OLPC BOGO customers get free year of T-Mobile HotSpot access
Yes, that's "Buy One, Give One" for those out of the loop, and for the sect willing to fork out $399 in order to claim an OLPC XO of their own and have one donated too, T-Mobile is announcing that it will give you a solid year of HotSpot access gratis. The partnership is hoping to encourage participation in the philanthropic campaign, but this is most certainly not the first time T-Mobile has handed out free WiFi in order to get its name out there. Nevertheless, if this tidbit somehow pushes you into the buyers' camp, you can place an order between November 12th - 26th and calmly anxiously await your new machine along with "information on how to activate the one year of complimentary HotSpot service." Go on, you know it's the perfect excuse to pull the trigger, and besides, that warm, fuzzy feeling you'll have will totally justify the hit to your checking account.[Via DailyWireless]
Alltel dives into WiFi, offers up variety of plans
Based on a new section of Alltel's website, it seems pretty safe to say that the carrier is jumping head first into the WiFi arena. Apparently, Alltel customers can now sign up for a variety of WiFi plans that will enable them to surf the internet via their 802.11b/g-equipped laptop whenever they're near one of the "thousands of convenient hotspot locations." Among those spots are Barnes & Noble, Avis, Embassy Suites, Hilton Hotels, Holiday Inn Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Tully's Coffee and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. As for rate plans, you can snag unlimited access to the "North and South American WiFi network" for $21.99 per month so long as you have any voice or data plan already, while the Premium WiFi plan requires that you're already paying for an Alltel Wireless Internet plan. Of course, there's also the Pay As You Go approach, and while it's yet to be confirmed, we're hearing that the company could be in talks with Boingo Wireless.[Via GigaOM]
Hands-on with T-Mobile HotSpot @Home
Roaming from cell towers to WiFi hotspots and back on the same phone sounds pretty cool, right? Engadget Mobile has the lowdown on T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home service -- the Nokia 6086, the Linksys router, the whole shebang -- so head on over to get an up-close peek at the goods!
T-Mobile goes national with HotSpot @Home WiFi calling
Following a limited launch last year in its hometown of Seattle, T-Mobile's finally pulling all the stops and taking its "HotSpot @Home" hybrid GSM / WiFi calling service national. A first among the US' big four carriers, @Home relies on traditional cell airwaves out in the field but switches seamlessly to WiFi when it gets within range of a T-Mobile hotspot or any other wireless router you've configured your phone to latch onto. For the millions of us with less-than-stellar reception in our homes, the service could be a life-saver -- and even better, WiFi minutes aren't deducted from your plan. Launch handsets are the Nokia 6086 and Samsung t409, both of which will go out the door for $49.99 on contract and include a Linksys or D-Link router -- both specially designed for @Home service -- for free after rebate, though any 802.11b access point should work. The service itself will run $9.99 per month on individual and $19.99 on family plans for up to five handsets. Look for the equipment today in T-Mobile stores and on the carrier's website.
Boingo to drop roaming charges on hotspot network
Ah, Boingo just keeps getting sweeter. After showing off its mobile service and partnering with FON, now the WiFi operator is making it even cheaper to hop online via its worldwide hotspot network. The company has announced that it will be hitting us up with a flat-rate service for $39 per month, which will enable users to utilize "more than 100,000 WiFi hotspots" across the globe sans roaming charges. Of course, this won't impact those Boingo users who manage to stay within the confines of the US of A, but globetrotters will certainly appreciate the end of per-minute roaming charges when surfing abroad. [Warning: read link requires subscription]
Boingo set to roam on FON's worldwide WiFi network
Boingo, which just recently flashed its Boingo Mobile services in your grill at 3GSM, has now made its somewhat sensational claims seem a bit more justified by partnering with FON to roam on its worldwide network of WiFi hotspots. Once the agreement is executed, Boingo's customers will reportedly have "access to an additional 130,000 hotspot locations," which will more than double the company's network size. Of course, this isn't the only partnership FON has inked in recent memory either, and while one may expect to fork over slightly more than the previously advertised $7.95 per month for an expanded Biongo Mobile network, it looks like the rates are staying put. No word yet on when the WiFi roaming will go live, but if you happened to be swarmed by Foneros in your neck of the woods, Boingo Mobile just might be worth the effort.
Podcast Rodeo for May 6: Ear's Mud in Your Eye
It's a fun week in the Rodeo, the sort of week driven by slow news and few releases, the sort of week that forces hosts to dig deep, let go of the magic feather and try to find the entertainment power that was inside them all along. The Hotspot: A story of tragedy, triumph and boredom on the Hotspot as a caller tells about working in an arcade while Billy Mitchell was trying to break the Pac-Man record. Long story short: A kid unplugs the machine, tragedy and hilarity ensue.
T-Mobile launching nationwide UMA this summer
What happened? Did T-Mobile, like, forget to launch this? Yeah, it happened in Seattle, but we're imagining there are plenty of people across the whole country that are down with rocking calls over WiFi while in the privacy of their own homes -- and they've had this thing in the wings for a long time now. Anyway, according to a Wall Street Journal piece, it seems that early problems have been finally ironed out and folks nationwide will be able to get their UMA on for $20 a month on top of the cost of their regular plan. T-Mobile can hook folks up with a compatible router for free after rebate or they can bring their own to the party. Look for it to launch as early as the middle of June (if the stars happen to align in just the right order).[Via textually.org]
London to become Europe's largest WiFi hotspot
As if blanketing the rim of the River Thames with WiFi wasn't good enough to get us out of the office and into the park, the Evening Standard is reporting that the whole city of London will soon becomes "Europe's biggest wireless internet hotspot." As expected, some 130 base stations will be arranged in a sophisticated mesh networking setup, which will span "the entire Square Mile," subsequently giving about 350,000 employees in the area access to unadulterated wireless internet. Wireless gurus from The Cloud are working in conjunction with city officials to tie off the final steps, and while initial coverage areas will dwarf Soho and Barbican City, the map above shows just how broad the service could get. Unfortunately, this edition of citywide WiFi will not come gratis, as users who plan to take advantage will be kindly asked to fork over about £11 ($22) a month for access.[Via Inquirer]
T-Mobile offers free wi-fi with latest update
Reluctant to update your PSP to the latest firmware? You may want to reconsider. The latest firmware offers PSP users the ability to access T-Mobile's wi-fi service for free. T-Mobile HotSpots can be found at over 8,000 locations across the US, and can be found in Starbucks, Borders, FedEx Kinko's, Hyatt, Red Roof Inns, Sofitel and Novotel Hotels, and select airports. Now, you'll be able to frag friends through Infrastructure almost anywhere in the US ... for free! How sweet is that? I went to a Starbucks to test it out, and found the process is quite easy: Bring your PSP® system to a location that provides a T-Mobile HotSpot. (Refer to the T-Mobile HotSpot U.S. Location Map.) Select (Network Settings) under (Settings). Select [Infrastructure Mode]. Select [New Connection]. Select [Use Wireless Hotspot]. Select the T-Mobile HotSpot icon. If you have an existing T-Mobile HotSpot account, select [Enter User Credentials].Enter your user ID and password, and then press the right button.orIf you do not have an account, select [Use Promotional Access] to sign up for a complimentary six-month T-Mobile HotSpot account. (To qualify for this promotional access, you must authenticate your PSP® system to the T-Mobile HotSpot network prior to March 28, 2008.) Check the contents of the settings list. Save the settings. [Via PlayStation]
Creation adds sixth sense for WiFi hotspots
We know, there are (supposedly) folks out there with the ingrained ability to sense wireless networks without any mechanical assistance whatsoever, but considering that we can't all live next door to Kate Figes, the rest of us mere mortals need a bit of manmade aid. Enter the WiFi Heartbeat, a custom built sensor / vibration device that autonomously sniffs out WiFi signals, determines the signal strength, and sends a pulsing signal to you based on just how close the hotspot is. The creator states that all you'll need is a "microcontroller, some custom interface electronics, a small vibe motor, and an off-the-shelf WiFi detector," and if you've given mildly difficult DIY endeavors a go before, we can't imagine this one causing too much strife. For those of you still on the fence, be sure to hit the read link for all the details you'd need to craft your own, and click on through for the video demonstration.[Via MAKE]
Pokemon transforms DS into 'cell phone' for kids
Not that Pokémon -- only the second best-selling game franchise evar -- needs any marketing spin to excite sales of its predestined two-headed spawn Diamond & Pearl, but Nintendo does seems eager to herald the game's impending arrival as a sort of "My First Celly" for DS toting youngsters eager for chatter. Of course, this is simply the ability to chat with registered friends using DS's VoIP capabilities, enabled by the new Pokémon game. While it's a far cry from pending productions and possibilities proposed by the competition, VoIP on DS is a little used feature that has the potential to be a unique selling point.Sure, it's tethered to Wi-Fi hotspots, but the technology offers the promise of safe communication -- in terms of both who your kid be talkin wit' and potential costs (or lack thereof) -- for concerned parents looking to serve their whiny offspring. Then again, DS VoIPin' lacks the much desired 'prank call' feature. With mischief muted, your preteens are gonna have to settle on playground gossip. That, or they could actually engage in some good ol' pocket monster melee. Imagine that.Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are scheduled for release on April 22.
RSS this!
Every week PSP Fanboy brings you a great new podcast that you can use your PSP's RSS feature to subscribe to. We were told by the god of war to call it: RSS this! This week we set our PSP's RSS feed to Gamespot's The HotSpot. Out every Tuesday, this podcast of course features game news and discussion, drawing from Gamespot's site and staff. Usually The HotSpot has the talents of Jeff Gerstmann, Ryan MacDonald, Greg Kasavin and Rich Gallup. While the podcast is definitely done in a professinal manner, that doesn't mean the hosts take themselves or the subject matter too seriously. The staff seem to get along well and have fun with the podcast and that makes listening to it all the more enjoyable. While everyone on The HotSpot has a great sense of humor, but just the lines from Jeff Gertsmann alone make it worth listening to. If you don't mind laughing loudly while listening through headphones and getting strange glances from your co-workers, than check out The HotSpot. If you want to add The HotSpot to your PSP's RSS, just bring up this site with your PSP through our mobile version at m.pspfanboy.com and click on this link: http://www.gamespot.com/misc/podcast/podcast.xml Then you can exit your web browser and the show should be in your RSS channels. From there you can set a timer for auto-download of episodes, or stream them and save memory stick space. Got something you have RSS'd and would like us to feature? Just let us know in the comments, or let other readers know what you think of The HotSpot.
T-Mobile promises three free months of WiFi for Vista users
We know, it's a tough call. Do you stick with the operating system you finally got running like a well-oiled machine, or do you throw caution to the wind and pick up Vista even though service packs are already in the works? Just in case you needed a little more persuading to upgrade your laptop to Microsoft's latest OS, or to snag a brand new machine with Vista pre-installed, T-Mobile is hoping to coax users by offering up three months of free hotspot service at the firm's North American WiFi access points found at Starbucks, Borders, FedEx-Kinkos, hotel chains, etc. Interestingly, the offer actually goes "live" on Australia Day, while the freebie comes to an end on April 30th, so if you somehow acquire yourself a copy before the January 30th street date, you can snag a few more precious hours of gratis surfing courtesy of Mr. Gates and T-Mobile.[Via BetaNews]
Big Brother taps PSP, in UK
UK PSP owners may be surprised to find their handhelds' web browsers being automatically directed to Channel 4's 4Radio website when launching from one of The Cloud's 7,500 public wi-fi hotspots. Don't worry, it's all part of the plan.According to Channel 4 Radio director Nathalie Schwarz, the deal with wi-fi provider The Cloud is part of an effort to "connect with a young, mobile audience," the lot who's hungry for "bold and mischievous radio programming," but doesn't want to turn on the radio. If you find Celebrity Big Brother podcasts being aggressively pushed onto your PSP completely invasive, you're not alone. This is one PSP novelty we hope is never adopted again.
