AT&T Makes Hot Spot Usage Much More Convenient with iPhone 3.0

MacRumors · Jun 17, 2009, 07:49 PM

9to5Mac points out that AT&T also announced a welcome piece of news for existing and future iPhone owners. AT&T now supports Wi-Fi "auto-authentication" in the 3.0 firmware. While iPhone customers have had free access to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots, accessing them required a somewhat cumbersome two-step authentication process using SMS. The new system will eliminate these steps altogether:

Quote:

Auto-authentication allows iPhone users to seamlessly switch from AT&T’s 3G network to an AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spot without being prompted. AT&T customers with qualifying iPhone data plans have unlimited access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network — more than 20,000 U.S. AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots.

The new process eliminates the previous two-step authentication, making it easier and faster for iPhone customers to connect to AT&T Wi-Fi. Auto-connect is established once a customer connects their iPhone to an AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spot the first time.

The new system is available starting today for all existing iPhone customers who have installed iPhone 3.0 and will also be available to iPhone 3G S owners.

Article Link: AT&T Makes Hot Spot Usage Much More Convenient with iPhone 3.0

HiRez · Jun 17, 2009, 07:51 PM

Very cool, and about time! That was really a lame interim method they came up with.

NinjaHERO · Jun 17, 2009, 07:51 PM

So this means it happens whenever you are in range or there is some setting that needs to be turned on?

MrMac208 · Jun 17, 2009, 07:52 PM

seriously its about time.

iphones4evry1 · Jun 17, 2009, 07:53 PM

Now this is totally awesome if it works as they say it does.

Mr. Giver '94 · Jun 17, 2009, 07:53 PM

So it's automatic?

Airforcekid · Jun 17, 2009, 07:54 PM

Does this work for other wifi devices too?

iphones4evry1 · Jun 17, 2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Giver '94

So it's automatic?

I know one way to find out.
Go to a coffee shop with an AT&T WiFi hotspot and look at your phone and see if it's using WiFi.

timshundo · Jun 17, 2009, 07:56 PM

Ah, interesting. So if iPhone users can connect to paid hotspots automatically for free, would it be possible to get that Wi-Fi internet connection from the phone to your computer through tethering rather than paying for a daily wifi pass? Perhaps this is what AT&T was worried about and have delayed the feature to work something out?

iMacoo7 · Jun 17, 2009, 07:57 PM

Here is the "qualifying customer" chant again... that really needs to be clarified. My monthly bill is always 150.00 -180.00 that is the total for my iphone and the other 2 lines on the plan and this includes my FAN discount.
So I wonder if they are saying each line has to range 99 bucks a piece thus leaving the consumer with a 300.00 monthly cell phone bill which is wicked.
Any comments on this matter

Jayomat · Jun 17, 2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timshundo

Ah, interesting. So if iPhone users can connect to paid hotspots automatically for free, would it be possible to get that internet connection from the phone to your computer to tethering? Perhaps this is what AT&T was worried about and have delayed the feature to work something out?

what has the one thing to do with the other?

HiRez · Jun 17, 2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Giver '94

So it's automatic?

According to the article, the first time you connect (manually), the auto-connection is established for that network.

I wonder if this works for any network with HTTP authentication (where you are sent to a web page to log in). Right now my iPhone will say it's connected to a WiFi network in these cases, but if you aren't using Safari, like say you're in maps, stocks, weather, or some other application, it'll just spin its wheels forever, never indicating any error, never prompting you to open Safari to log in, never falling back on EDGE even (I have the 2G model).

arn · Jun 17, 2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMacoo7

Here is the "qualifying customer" chant again... that really needs to be clarified. My monthly bill is always 150.00 -180.00 that is the total for my iphone and the other 2 lines on the plan and this includes my FAN discount.
So I wonder if they are saying each line has to range 99 bucks a piece thus leaving the consumer with a 300.00 monthly cell phone bill which is wicked.
Any comments on this matter

you are in the wrong thread. this has nothing to do with your monthly rate plan.

arn

HiRez · Jun 17, 2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timshundo

Ah, interesting. So if iPhone users can connect to paid hotspots automatically for free, would it be possible to get that Wi-Fi internet connection from the phone to your computer through tethering rather than paying for a daily wifi pass? Perhaps this is what AT&T was worried about and have delayed the feature to work something out?

I'm pretty sure you can connect directly to those WiFi hotspots from your laptop without using a phone, as long as you have an iPhone account. I can't remember if there was some trickery needed to log in that way though, but I definitely remember reading it's possible.

Farani · Jun 17, 2009, 08:02 PM

Must one have wifi enabled for this? I don't like leaving wifi on because there isn't much wifi available in my area so why drain my battery.

NewSc2 · Jun 17, 2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farani

Must one have wifi enabled for this? I don't like leaving wifi on because there isn't much wifi available in my area so why drain my battery.

I don't see how you couldn't leave wifi on. I always leave wifi on and haven't found it to be a huge drain.

Fluffy Bunny · Jun 17, 2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMacoo7

Here is the "qualifying customer" chant again... that really needs to be clarified. My monthly bill is always 150.00 -180.00 that is the total for my iphone and the other 2 lines on the plan and this includes my FAN discount.
So I wonder if they are saying each line has to range 99 bucks a piece thus leaving the consumer with a 300.00 monthly cell phone bill which is wicked.
Any comments on this matter

You need a qualifying iPhone data plan and since there is only one data plan you get the free wifi. If somehow you don't have a data plan with your iPhone, then you don't get the free wifi. Seems clear.

NinjaHERO · Jun 17, 2009, 08:09 PM

I will be interested to hear how this works. I have had some wonky stuff happen with my wifi. I know when I use my iphone on a 'free' connection where I have to click I accept the terms of service. The next time I return my phone 'remembers' the wifi site and tries to use it. But without the accepting of terms of service I basically don't have any internet access because the phone won't use its 3g connection when wifi is 'available'.

I just hope the AT&T auto log in doesn't end up with some similar glitch.

But I am excited to try it out. Although I have no idea where an AT&T hotspot is.

twoodcc · Jun 17, 2009, 08:12 PM

now this sounds great. i have an iphone, but have never used at&t wifi hot spots before

jonessodarally · Jun 17, 2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiRez

According to the article, the first time you connect (manually), the auto-connection is established for that network.

I wonder if this works for any network with HTTP authentication (where you are sent to a web page to log in). Right now my iPhone will say it's connected to a WiFi network in these cases, but if you aren't using Safari, like say you're in maps, stocks, weather, or some other application, it'll just spin its wheels forever, never indicating any error, never prompting you to open Safari to log in, never falling back on EDGE even (I have the 2G model).

I know exactly what you're talking about. Incredibly frustrating. Heading to Starbucks now though, so I'll report back on how well it all seems to work for me.

Willis · Jun 17, 2009, 08:13 PM

here in the UK, any hotspot provided by The Cloud or BTOpenzone had a 1 time setup then every hotspot you feel into, it connected.

Never knew AT&T had a 2 step process everytime...

syklee26 · Jun 17, 2009, 08:15 PM

I guess I will be drinking a lot more starbucks coffee.

ghileman · Jun 17, 2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiRez

I'm pretty sure you can connect directly to those WiFi hotspots from your laptop without using a phone, as long as you have an iPhone account. I can't remember if there was some trickery needed to log in that way though, but I definitely remember reading it's possible.

Can anyone confirm this?

Flowbee · Jun 17, 2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NinjaHERO

I will be interested to hear how this works.

Works like a charm. Just returned from my local Starbucks and, until I saw this article, didn't even realize that I hadn't been prompted for my phone number when I was there surfing. Seamless.

Farani · Jun 17, 2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewSc2

I don't see how you couldn't leave wifi on. I always leave wifi on and haven't found it to be a huge drain.

I guess I just got used to leaving it off 2 years ago with my first iphone. It never switched between the cellular network and wfi seamlessly so I ended up just using edge all the time. It seemed to drain my battery faster too. I guess I'll turn wifi on and see what happens. Thanks a lot!

Jun 17, 2009, 07:51 PM	#2
HiRez macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA	Very cool, and about time! That was really a lame interim method they came up with. __________________ Go outside, the graphics are amazing!

Jun 17, 2009, 07:51 PM	#3
NinjaHERO macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: U S of A	So this means it happens whenever you are in range or there is some setting that needs to be turned on? __________________ New New MBP 13" (1st one defective), iBook G4, Two Iphone 3G's NinjaHERO.com, StoppingStupid.com, and SASScience.com

Jun 17, 2009, 07:53 PM	#6
Mr. Giver '94 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA	So it's automatic? __________________ 3.06 GHz 500GB 24" Alu. iMac iPod Nano Red 16GB iPod 5.5G 30GB iPT 1G 8GB Beats by Dr Dre B&O Earset 3 iPhone 3G 16GB Black

Jun 17, 2009, 07:54 PM	#7
Airforcekid macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: United States of America	Does this work for other wifi devices too? __________________ Best Mac made? iMac G3 yep still my main computer.

Jun 17, 2009, 07:57 PM	#10
iMacoo7 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Destin, Florida	Here is the "qualifying customer" chant again... that really needs to be clarified. My monthly bill is always 150.00 -180.00 that is the total for my iphone and the other 2 lines on the plan and this includes my FAN discount. So I wonder if they are saying each line has to range 99 bucks a piece thus leaving the consumer with a 300.00 monthly cell phone bill which is wicked. Any comments on this matter __________________ 2009 24" C2D 3.06Ghz\|1.0 TB HDD\|6 GB Ram16 GB White iPhoneiPhone 3GS 16GB Black\|

Jun 17, 2009, 07:52 PM	#4
MrMac208 macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2009	seriously its about time.

Jun 17, 2009, 07:53 PM	#5
iphones4evry1 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: California, USA	Now this is totally awesome if it works as they say it does.

Jun 17, 2009, 07:56 PM	#9
timshundo macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Francisco, CA	Ah, interesting. So if iPhone users can connect to paid hotspots automatically for free, would it be possible to get that Wi-Fi internet connection from the phone to your computer through tethering rather than paying for a daily wifi pass? Perhaps this is what AT&T was worried about and have delayed the feature to work something out?

Jun 17, 2009, 08:02 PM	#15
Farani macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2007	Must one have wifi enabled for this? I don't like leaving wifi on because there isn't much wifi available in my area so why drain my battery.

Jun 17, 2009, 08:09 PM	#18
NinjaHERO macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: U S of A	I will be interested to hear how this works. I have had some wonky stuff happen with my wifi. I know when I use my iphone on a 'free' connection where I have to click I accept the terms of service. The next time I return my phone 'remembers' the wifi site and tries to use it. But without the accepting of terms of service I basically don't have any internet access because the phone won't use its 3g connection when wifi is 'available'. I just hope the AT&T auto log in doesn't end up with some similar glitch. But I am excited to try it out. Although I have no idea where an AT&T hotspot is. __________________ New New MBP 13" (1st one defective), iBook G4, Two Iphone 3G's NinjaHERO.com, StoppingStupid.com, and SASScience.com

Jun 17, 2009, 08:12 PM	#19
twoodcc macrumors 603 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Right side of wrong	now this sounds great. i have an iphone, but have never used at&t wifi hot spots before __________________ tville pump Smarter than the average bear

Jun 17, 2009, 08:13 PM	#21
Willis macrumors 68000 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks	here in the UK, any hotspot provided by The Cloud or BTOpenzone had a 1 time setup then every hotspot you feel into, it connected. Never knew AT&T had a 2 step process everytime... __________________ MacBook Pro 17" Antiglare 500GB 7,200rpm iPhone 3G 16GB Black

Jun 17, 2009, 08:15 PM	#22
syklee26 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2005	I guess I will be drinking a lot more starbucks coffee.

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