Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Free Wifi at AT&T hotspots

I wish ATT would make using their wi-fi less of a pain, the cumbersome log-in makes it not worth the time if you have 3G phone+coverage. I've used the ATT/Starbucks service before logging in via my DSL service access, which is somewhat cumbersome but not too bad if you're going to be there for a while.

I have found an annoying problem that arises once you connect to an "attwifi" network. The iphone remembers this connection and tries to reconnect anytime you're near one in the future, even unsuspectingly just walking by. But for you to have access you have to login in each day (or few hours), and the window that tells you this only shows up in Safari. Thus if you're just trying to download or send email the iphone hangs as it fails to communicate because you're not "logged in".

Have other people had this problem? For now I just delete "attwifi" whenever I'm done there.
 
what about for unlocked iPhone users?

I have an unlocked iPhone using AT&T (without the edge-visual voicemail plan) and still receive txts about iPhone firmware upgrades from AT&T. When I go to my bill online, the wireless line recognizes the iPhone so does that mean my number is eligible for the free wifi as well?
 
jahsavi said:
Guys where is the mac laptop comments..

Would this work?

Use your laptop to login and type your phone number.
Type the text message link into your safari browser in iphone mode.
iphone+laptop=internet on your laptop ..whats the difference lol
Click to expand...

I don't think this would work anymore, I know when they first had the iPhone free Wi-Fi you were able to open safari and click on the develop menu and click on iPhone but now you have to open the link from the text message on your phone!

Edit:
I think another reason they did this was because I guess they figured out that you change the browser mode (Pic Below) were able to enter a friends cell phone number that has an iPhone if they didn't have an iPhone.
 

Attachments

  • Picture 7.png
    Picture 7.png
    144.4 KB · Views: 136
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

nice I just searched my town and every md bn and starbucks has wifi.
 
Need an iPhone app for logging in

AT&T should create an iPhone app to automate the access process. The app could already know your phone number and do a challenge/response authentication. Since the app can only run on an iPhone, you don't have to worry about a laptop impersonating a phone to get free access. This would be much better than having to wait for an SMS. Just run the app, click "GO", and be online. As a bonus, the app could list where the nearest wifi hotspots are when it doesn't see one via wifi.
 
Well, I'm sitting in a Starbucks enjoying my coffee and enjoying the free wifi. When I signed in, the text message came very quickly.
Good stuff indeed.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

wasn't there suppose to be an app where you can place your order on your phone for cofee?
 
Surely said:
Well, I'm sitting in a Starbucks enjoying my coffee and enjoying the free wifi. When I signed in, the text message came very quickly.
Good stuff indeed.
Click to expand...

Please help the cry babies who are whining about the "complex" logon process for the FREE service. :confused:
 
User Agent Mobile Safari 1.1.3 no longer tricks the web portal into thinking an iPhone is browsing. Furthermore, the SMS activation prohibits any iPhone without an active AT&T cell number from participating.
 
So will this work in airport's like Chicago OHare that are att premium (roaming) hotspots. I don't think so but just to be sure.:cool:
 
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

Wow that's great to hear!
Now they can work on getting us better coverage. :D
 
?

I haven't received a text from AT&T.

Has anyone tried typing the link to use it with their laptop?
 
grayskies said:
I haven't received a text from AT&T.

Has anyone tried typing the link to use it with their laptop?
Click to expand...

People should try this and then post into the forum...
1) Open Safari and in the User Agent click on "1.1.4 Mobile Safari-iPhone"
2) Open the Safari on the iPhone and enter your number.
3) Open the link in the text message
4) Click on the "+" button on the iPhone and select "Mail Link to this Page"
5) Open the link on your notebook. (If possible i some way "NetShare?")

(Can't do it myself because I don't have time today.)
 
what about regular data plan users?

I pay $60/mo for unlimited data via my USB card, which is 300% more per month than the iPhone user who pays $20/mo. Is it unfair to expect the same(if not 300% better) treatment from AT&T? Where's my free wifi?
 
nfrankli said:
I wish ATT would make using their wi-fi less of a pain, the cumbersome log-in makes it not worth the time if you have 3G phone+coverage. I've used the ATT/Starbucks service before logging in via my DSL service access, which is somewhat cumbersome but not too bad if you're going to be there for a while.

I have found an annoying problem that arises once you connect to an "attwifi" network. The iphone remembers this connection and tries to reconnect anytime you're near one in the future, even unsuspectingly just walking by. But for you to have access you have to login in each day (or few hours), and the window that tells you this only shows up in Safari. Thus if you're just trying to download or send email the iphone hangs as it fails to communicate because you're not "logged in".

Have other people had this problem? For now I just delete "attwifi" whenever I'm done there.
Click to expand...

Goodness yes. I've gotten to the point where I avoid att wifi because of this. Living in $LARGE_CITY with a gazillion Starbucks and McD's means that I lose data connectivity every time a take a walk if I have network "remembered".

What's more annoying is that you can't remove the att wifi network from your saved networks unless you are connected to it. Arg.
 
to hurt the BB Storm

I figure ATT did this to hurt the BB Storm for not having wifi once it comes out NOV 15. BB has been pushing u dont need wifi when you have the VZW network. well ATT has answered
 
Incase no one has replied with this (to many to read throug heh)

I have an original iphone with 2.1 jailbreaked on a go-phone pay as you go plan and i was able to use this to get free wifi at starbucks.

So for me that's a great option i'm not paying 30$ a month on internet but still get to use it :)
 
Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

This seems to be a very involved method of getting on the wifi network but I guess it is necessary to make sure you are legit.
 
lisster said:
Incase no one has replied with this (to many to read throug heh)

I have an original iphone with 2.1 jailbreaked on a go-phone pay as you go plan and i was able to use this to get free wifi at starbucks.

So for me that's a great option i'm not paying 30$ a month on internet but still get to use it :)
Click to expand...

Pay-As-You-Go non-iphone plan or the iphone pay as you go plan? I'm pretty sure it's the non-iphone plan since you said you're not paying the extra $30 a month for internet.

bbh said:
Will it work on a hacked iPhone that is on the T-Mobile network? The Starbucks/AT&T "2 hour" option does.
Click to expand...

If AT&T is smart enough to run the phone number you submit through a verification bank of some'sort, I think not, but I could be wrong. Like maybe they would run the number to make sure it's an ATT #. Ya think so?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back