US Wifi Update

Stu · **US Wifi Update -** 17-12-2009, 01:06

For the folks out there who are using mobile VOIP devices, you might be interested in knowing that McDonalds, Border's Books, and Barnes & Noble Bookstore now have free wifi. (McDonalds goes free January 2010). Add this to the list of other places in the U.S. which include Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee, Bigsby Coffee, and Starbucks (with strings) and it is a pretty impressive list.

*For Starbucks, you need to buy a Starbucks gift card, use it once the month you want the wifi, and then you can surf (or talk) for two hours a day.

petkow · 17-12-2009, 17:37

And on the other end of the Atlantic, if like me any of you have had to spend a few hours waiting for a boat in Orkney and somehow have not frozen to death, you'll be pleased to know that from soon the little pier in Stromness will also have free WiFI! Yipee!

BBC News - UK community groups win free wi-fi

Motel75 · 17-12-2009, 22:27

And if you're anywhere in Center City, Philadelphia, you should be able to use the city's free wi-fi system. (Or at least you used to be.)

RTuesday · 18-12-2009, 07:39

Don't forget libraries for free wi-fi also. Clark County, Nevada (Las Vegas) has free wi-fi in all libraries (it's very useful when staying in a casino that charges), same for New York etc. I've also used the free wi-fi in libraries in places like Portree, Skye (Scotland). And many more.

bylo · 18-12-2009, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu

For Starbucks, you need to buy a Starbucks gift card, use it once the month you want the wifi, and then you can surf (or talk) for two hours a day.

Note that the Starbucks deal applies only in the US. Up here a Starbucks gift card gets you only the opportunity to pay for WiFi. If you want free you need an Internet account with Bhell. Or you can go to a Williams coffee shop and surf for free without restrictions (in Ontario, at least.) McDonald's Canada is expected to follow in 2010 with free WiFi as well, at least in some of its locations.

I second the suggestion about public libraries. And don't forget the obvious: there are open routers [almost] everywhere

Stu · 19-12-2009, 20:17

U.S. Starbucks gift cards work fine in Canadian Starbucks, but bylo is correct that it doesn't get you free wifi. Boingo includes Canadian Starbucks and Verizon USA data card and DSL subscribers get complimentary wifi at Canadian Starbucks.

bylo · 20-12-2009, 15:34

Back to the USA...

Free WiFi - A 2009-2010 Holiday Gift from Google

Quote:

When you’re traveling this holiday season, you can enjoy free WiFi at 54 participating airports and on every Virgin America flight. Just bring a WiFi-enabled laptop or mobile device and stay connected to family and friends for free while you travel now through January 15, 2010.

Stu · 15-01-2010, 14:53

McDonald's has gone free:

Free (And Not So Free) Wi-Fi at McDonald's

Some Canadian McDonald's may be getting it as well:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2357193,00.asp

Also, Amtrak is starting to offer free wifi on their East coast trains. Sorry I don't have a URL on that one.

snidely · 21-01-2010, 04:31

Stu forgot to mention the Dubai airport has free wifi. Nothing like sitting on our UMA enabled T-Mobile phones and making free calls to the U.S. while waiting the nearly 2 hours for our plane. (This was over a year ago.) Regular roaming rates are about $3/min.!
Of course many airports have free wifi. Las Vegas, Ft. Lauderdale, even Oakland, Ca. just to name a few. San Francisco is not free nor is Miami.

...mike

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	(#1 (permalink))
Stu (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 774 Join Date: 11 Feb 2004 Location: Dubai (& Detroit) Country:	US Wifi Update - 17-12-2009, 01:06 For the folks out there who are using mobile VOIP devices, you might be interested in knowing that McDonalds, Border's Books, and Barnes & Noble Bookstore now have free wifi. (McDonalds goes free January 2010). Add this to the list of other places in the U.S. which include Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee, Bigsby Coffee, and Starbucks (with strings) and it is a pretty impressive list. *For Starbucks, you need to buy a Starbucks gift card, use it once the month you want the wifi, and then you can surf (or talk) for two hours a day.

	(#2 (permalink))
petkow (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Pioneer Posts: 642 Join Date: 01 Aug 2006 Location: Madrid Country:	17-12-2009, 17:37 And on the other end of the Atlantic, if like me any of you have had to spend a few hours waiting for a boat in Orkney and somehow have not frozen to death, you'll be pleased to know that from soon the little pier in Stromness will also have free WiFI! Yipee! BBC News - UK community groups win free wi-fi

	(#3 (permalink))
Motel75 (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 414 Join Date: 15 Jun 2006 Location: Berlin Country:	17-12-2009, 22:27 And if you're anywhere in Center City, Philadelphia, you should be able to use the city's free wi-fi system. (Or at least you used to be.) Current DE: Vodafone (0172, ex-postpaid), Simyo, Solomo; PL: Heyah; UK: Virgin; IT: Vodafone; US: T-Mobile (212, 931) Former CZ: Vodafone, Oskar; ES: Lebara; GR: Vodafone, Wind; PL: Era, Sami Swoi, Orange, POP, iPlus, Heyah (many), Carrefour Mova, Telepin Mobi, Play; TR: Turkcell; DE: Vodafone, T-Mobile (0171), O2, Blauworld, 01051mobile, Solomo, Vistream, Congstar; UK: Vodafone, T-Mobile, Virgin; US: T-Mobile, AT&T

	(#4 (permalink))
RTuesday (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 301 Join Date: 28 Mar 2005 Location: Currently Mexico Country:	18-12-2009, 07:39 Don't forget libraries for free wi-fi also. Clark County, Nevada (Las Vegas) has free wi-fi in all libraries (it's very useful when staying in a casino that charges), same for New York etc. I've also used the free wi-fi in libraries in places like Portree, Skye (Scotland). And many more.

	(#6 (permalink))
Stu (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 774 Join Date: 11 Feb 2004 Location: Dubai (& Detroit) Country:	19-12-2009, 20:17 U.S. Starbucks gift cards work fine in Canadian Starbucks, but bylo is correct that it doesn't get you free wifi. Boingo includes Canadian Starbucks and Verizon USA data card and DSL subscribers get complimentary wifi at Canadian Starbucks.

	(#8 (permalink))
Stu (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 774 Join Date: 11 Feb 2004 Location: Dubai (& Detroit) Country:	15-01-2010, 14:53 McDonald's has gone free: Free (And Not So Free) Wi-Fi at McDonald's Some Canadian McDonald's may be getting it as well: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2357193,00.asp Also, Amtrak is starting to offer free wifi on their East coast trains. Sorry I don't have a URL on that one.

	(#9 (permalink))
snidely (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 306 Join Date: 09 May 2005 Location: Berkeley, California and Miami Country:	21-01-2010, 04:31 Stu forgot to mention the Dubai airport has free wifi. Nothing like sitting on our UMA enabled T-Mobile phones and making free calls to the U.S. while waiting the nearly 2 hours for our plane. (This was over a year ago.) Regular roaming rates are about $3/min.! Of course many airports have free wifi. Las Vegas, Ft. Lauderdale, even Oakland, Ca. just to name a few. San Francisco is not free nor is Miami. ...mike Primarily uses my grandfathered U.S. T-M phone when traveling - 29¢/min. incoming in many countries. Now also make usee of T-M's UMA/wifi free calling from any place in the world w. access to wifi. Use Nokia 6086 or BB 9700, both UMA capable. U.S. T-Mobile unlimited minutes - $50/mo. BB is $20 extra.