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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."

13 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Man, I wish I could have been in that meeting by NaCh0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Marketing Douche: Say, how about we offer mobile internet access that won't work with mobile devices.

    PHB: Great idea!!

    1. 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
    2. Re:Man, I wish I could have been in that meeting by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think they actually mean "WyFy", don't they?

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  2. 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.
  3. Reverse engineering in 3, 2, 1... by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "To use a hotspot, the customer must install software that works only on computers with Windows Vista or XP installed. ..."

    How long until THAT is reverse-engineered? (And/or will it run under WINE? Is it a control app or something that goes into the protocol stack?)

    --
    Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
  4. 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.

    --
    1+2+1+1 || 1+2+2+1
  5. 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...

    --
    1+2+1+1 || 1+2+2+1
  6. Re:This is fucking BULLSHIT, and it has mshaft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ALL OVER, or it has dumb-ass STUPID verizon marketing, legal, and ms/verizon/stupid-lazy-programmers/marketing..........

    Show me, on this doll, where Verizon touched you.

  7. 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
  8. Windows only? Boingo Has an OS X Client by weston · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is odd, because Boingo has an OS X client for accessing their service. If Verizon is using them as the provider, why would it be locked out?

    --
    Tweet, tweet.
  9. Re:Level heads by Svartalf · · Score: 3, Informative

    Oh, no... This is truly a Verizon gem.

    Here's the Link
    And here's the VerizonWiFi link for the service... :-)

    Verizon Wi-Fi is not available for PDAs, phones, desktop PCs or Macs.

    The software's only available for Windows and only intended for "laptops" right at the moment- they're not using Boingo's usual software, it's something special for Verizon.

    --
    I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
  10. Re:Troll? by layer3switch · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.boingo.com/download-boingo.php Assuming this is Boingo network, I don't see how Boingo software can't be used within Boingo network. Currently Boingo supports from Windows XP, Mac OS X, Nokia N series, WindowCE, Blackberry, Android and iPhone/iPod Touch. Most likely Verizon partnership with Boingo is to include the Verizon netbook promo users for branding. I mean, even the most stupidest marketing idiots should be able to see the idiocy in supporting only Windows XP/Vista. I really really really don't want to lose my faith in humanity because of this...

    --
    "Don't let fools fool you. They are the clever ones."
  11. Re:This is fucking BULLSHIT, and it has mshaft by AndrewNeo · · Score: 4, Funny

    ALL OVER