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Verizon FiOS/DSL Customers Get Free Wi-Fi Across US

Posted by kdawson on from the windows-only dept.

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."

8 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Sadly . . . by grahamsaa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.
  2. Included software count over/under by mustangsal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Starting at TWO. You have to figure on at least a homepage change and a Yahoo toolbar.

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    1+2+1+1 || 1+2+2+1
  3. TCP stack crash included at no extra charge by mustangsal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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...

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    1+2+1+1 || 1+2+2+1
  4. Re:Troll? by Svartalf · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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
  5. Re:Windows only? Boingo Has an OS X Client by amiga3D · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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.

  6. Re:No FIOS here, but... by virtual_mps · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...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?

  7. Re:Man, I wish I could have been in that meeting by Svartalf · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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
  8. Apple dominates the $1000+ computer market by beej · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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!