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McDonalds to go Wireless?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the would-you-like-802.11g-with-that? dept.

crayongod writes "The AP, by way of AOL *yipe*, is reporting a pilot program by McDonalds to provide inhouse WiFi with the purchase of a combo meal. This sure will make roadtrips a lot easier." An hour of access per combo meal. Additional hours can be purchased for $3... or another zillion calorie combo meal. Mmmm. Healthy.

3 of 385 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Mechanism? by Obiwan+Kenobi · · Score: 4, Informative

    Since the article was fairly light, I'll give you a scenario:

    You buy a meal from McDonalds. "Would you like Internet Access?" the 15 year old hottie asks you.

    "Um...sure," you say, your laptop getting heavy on your shoulder.

    She hands you a card (or perhaps its printed on the receipt). It has an IP Address, a subnet mask, and a gateway. Hopefully there would be instructions nearby, with settings for Macs, Win95 - WinXP.

    They could specify IP addresses that are good for only one hour, and to keep up with the load they could also use different subnets. The NAT used in the router would take care of IP leasing issues, and there should be no DHCP (or else you'd get free 'net access just by turning on your laptop and WiFi card).

    Sounds fairly simple to me, but the hype is probably louder than customers who actually want this.

  2. Re:Mechanism? by syle · · Score: 5, Informative
    I think a more likely approach is a custom forwarding setup, like cablemodems do today. When I attach any new computer into the hub for cable access, I get a valid DHCP address right off the bat, but it won't forward any non-web packets, and all websites lead me to a page asking for a login and password.

    I've seen variations on this theme at the university I attended and apartments I've stayed at. (1) It's a lot easier once the infrastructure is in place, and (2) McDonald's does NOT want to deal with 1000 customers who have no clue about how to type in their IP address, and (3) It would stay compatible with the other types of WiFi networks you commonly see (ie, no manually switching your settings as you enter or leave McD's).

    --

    /syle

  3. Re:mcdonalds food by Latent+IT · · Score: 4, Informative

    Personally, I find it odd that it would be stamped that, since beef is graded as follows:

    Prime, Choice, Select, Standard, Commercial, Utility, Cutter, and Canner.

    Eggs and Poultry are graded with letters, but hey. Poultry only goes to C, of course.

    You even provide a definition of Grade D beef! That's so nice of you! Really impressive, too, since it doesn't exist.

    Educate yourself.

    And stop pretending, and spreading your bullshit, okay?