Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

7 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!!

  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. 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.

  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. Re:This is fucking BULLSHIT, and it has mshaft by AndrewNeo · · Score: 4, Funny

    ALL OVER