AT&T announces free WiFi access

iPhone users may notice a text message from AT&T today. Although I haven’t yet received it (why are you dissing me, AT&T?), we’ve had reports that AT&T is announcing free WiFi access all across the U.S.:

AT&T Free Msg: Your Apple iPhone now has free AT&T Wi-Fi access at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including Starbucks*. For info, visit www.att.com/attwifi.

Being the investigative journalist I am, I did, indeed, visit AT&T’s site. There:

AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and FREE Wi-Fi is even hotter. Which is why FREE AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available for Apple iPhone at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including Starbucks*. Users can relax and access music, email and web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their nearest location. For information visit www.att.com/attwifi.

*Wi-Fi available at U.S. company-operated Starbucks locations equipped with a hotspot.

Odd that the article links back to itself, but so be it. The release lists some types of places where you can get free WiFi, but nothing specific. Further into the site, you can find iPhone specific instructions:

iPhone users, get started with Wi-Fi

• Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
• Select “attwifi” from the list of available networks
• Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the Acceptable Use Policy. Tap ‘continue’
• You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
• The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hotspot location.
• Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot

Hopefully, this works at the restaurants where I’ve been denied decent Internet because I’d rather use Edge than pay for a WiFi connection. Since AT&T isn’t offering much in the way of hotspot details, be sure to let us know where this does and doesn’t work for you.

Via [AT&T]