In the never ending saga of AT&T Wi-Fi and the iPhone, it seems that unlimited AT&T Wi-Fi has made a fast exit from iPhone plans. Yesterday users were able to clearly see that AT&T iPhone plans included AT&T Wi-Fi at over 17,000 locations including Starbucks. Today the Wi-Fi inclusion has disappeared and AT&T has “no comment”. For those who bought an iPhone yesterday, I wonder if this is one of those “get out of your plan free” material contract changes? More likely they pulled the verbiage because the login process was not yet up and running for authentication of iPhone users. To quote a famous California Governor - “I’ll be baaaak“.

Via: Computerworld - AT&T yanks iPhone free Wi-Fi info from site

The free AT&T Wi-Fi that iPhone users were enjoying at Starbucks last week seems destined to be expanded (all AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots) and made permanent for those using an iPhone on the AT&T network. Several users spotted an update to AT&T’s iPhone plan which clearly states:

To use iPhone, you’ll need to sign up for a 2-year service agreement. Plans start at $59.99 and include Visual Voicemail, Unlimited Data (email and web), 200 SMS text messages and access to AT&T’s more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, including Starbucks* all for use in the U.S.
*Wi-Fi available at U.S. company operated Starbucks locations equipped with a hotspot.

Via: MacRumors - AT&T Officially Lists Wi-Fi Hotspot Access with iPhone Plans
Link: AT&T iPhone Plan Information

AT&T appears to have disabled free iPhone access to their Wi-Fi network via your neighborhood Starbucks. I just stopped into the same Starbucks that previously allowed me free iPhone Wi-Fi access, and now I’m prompted for a password. As reported elsewhere, I can verify that my local Barnes & Noble ( Manchester, CT ) prompted for a password, though it was a slightly different login than the one presented at Starbucks. Looks like the free Wi-Fi ride is over for now. Let’s hope it’s only temporary.

Via: Macrumors

You’ve probably noticed that earlier this week AT&T turned on free WIFI access for some of their Starbucks and Barnes and Noble locations. The login screen (depicted above) automatically authenticates any iPhone user who enters their phone number. Now someone has figured out how to “spoof” this login process to make a laptop browser appear to be an iPhone browser - thus granting free WIFI on a laptop. While spoofing your browser’s user agent (see link below) may be considered hacking by some, I think it’s more likely a brilliant move on the part of AT&T to bring traffic into retail stores that host the WIFI access points. WIFI is somewhat of a commodity and there is probably more value in using it to attract customers to a store (and away from online shopping) than in selling WIFI subscriptions. Here’s the link below if you want free WIFI via your Laptop. Note: You’ll still need to enter in a valid iPhone telephone number and your mileage may vary on which Starbucks and Barnes and Nobles offer this free service - as reported by Patrick at JustAnotherIphoneBlog.

Link: Get Free Wi-Fi Access on Your Laptop at Starbucks, Barnes and Noble

As reported yesterday, it appears that AT&T has turned on free WIFI for iPhone subscribers. This morning while on my way to visit a client I took a short detour to the Glastonbury CT Starbucks on Hebron Ave and can confirm that I received the login prompt, entered my phone number, and was online surfing via WIFI on my iPhone.

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