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Verizon FiOS/DSL Customers Get Free Wi-Fi Across US
Glenn Fleishman lets us know that Verizon is finally offering nationwide Wi-Fi access to its high-speed Internet customers, long after Cablevision's similar service went live. While Cablevision is building out an in-house network of hotspots, Verizon is relying on a deal with Boingo Wireless — a strategy with both strengths and drawbacks, as Wi-Fi Net News points out. Neither Verizon's nor Boingo's announcement reveals the mechanics of how existing Verizon DSL and FiOS customers will get access, but an AP report spells it out: "To use a hotspot, the customer must install software that works only on computers with Windows Vista or XP installed. Phones, iPods, and Macintosh computers with Wi-Fi can't access the hotspots."
Neither this wireless service, nor FiOS, are available to users in many markets. Where I live we have a telephone company and cable company duopoly over broadband service. A little more competition would be nice. . .
Facts have a liberal bias.
Starting at TWO. You have to figure on at least a homepage change and a Yahoo toolbar.
1+2+1+1 || 1+2+2+1
So now I'll have the Verizon Access Manager, the Boingo tool, several VPN clients... How long until it all crashes... How stable can it be if it only runs on...
1+2+1+1 || 1+2+2+1
ALL OVER, or it has dumb-ass STUPID verizon marketing, legal, and ms/verizon/stupid-lazy-programmers/marketing-kickback dollars ALL OVER IT.
Why can't these fuckwads operate within normal, existing, working, trusted, proven, os-agnostic protocols. These kinds of people deserve to be keelhauled, razor-wire-whipped, then possibly drawn and quartered. I wonder how many Apple and Linux customers of verizon would be compelled to buy a PC. This damned shit sounds like a trial balloon to lube and lure people into buying into windoze 7.
Let's all barrage the various congress/senate/state public utilities authorities, even if we are not verizon customers. THIS SHIT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO STAND.
(Looking for a new gasket since the current one just blew...)
Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
It's not an anti-Windows troll...
If you use MacOS or Linux, it truly IS worthless. Moreover, it axes many useful usages, like a Nokia N770/N8X0/N9XXX mobile device, which uses Linux as it's main OS; and we won't get into the other WinCE devices which would have used it as well.
It's a short-sighted thing they've done here. Seriously.
I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
Because it's Verizon? The only nice thing I can think of to say about Verizon is they aren't AT&T. I wonder why we can't have a decent wireless provider in the US. Must they all suck. Except for AT&T who swallow.
Level heads, people, level heads. This is a report from the AP; neither Verizon nor Boingo have commented on the mechanics of the service.
Verizon has little incentive to refuse access to portable devices or Macs or anybody else for that matter. They're probably not into Windows evangelism nor do they really benefit from offering a "free" service that nobody can use (roll out costs will trump usage costs for the near term and if the service isn't used it won't attract more customers anyway). Finally, Verizon is a major phone company and knows as well as anyone that mobility is the present and future. They're not going to ignore that segment.
Similarly, Boingo, whose whole business is providing easy-to-use wireless access, would suffer from word-of-mouth. Furthermore, as other posters have commented, Boingo already has applications for many platforms, including most smart phones.
Therefore I find it hard to believe that Verizon, with Boingo's consent as business partner is allowing only Windows XP and Vista to access their new hotspots. I'll wait until Verizon and/or Boingo make an official announcement before getting the ol' pitchfork out the closet.
...if I downgrade my broadband speed by a factor of 5-10 from cable
You have a 300Mbps cable connection? What market is that in?
This is Verizon you're talking about here. They have this control thing- and moreover, if you're using a Cellphone/PDA, you're supposed to be using their more expensive EvDO service you know... :-D
I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
Their users don't need no steenkin' free wifi! They're all waiting for Apple to roll out $100/month wifi with the rounded corners!
I have had AT&T's free wifi for years, and haven't used it once: I rather work in a coffee shop than at McD. And I'd rather support a coffee shop or hotel that offers wifi to all of its customers, than one that participates in a subscription only net.
I also assume, that using your DSL provider's "free" WiFi will help to make open hotspots disappear and lead to an internet, where you can't log on without positive identification and account login.
Despite stupid scare tactics, there still is a a fair number of places, that see wifi sharing as a courtesy, and not as a threat to national security.
Just google for it.