AT&T Increases Wi-Fi Locations to 20,000

That's great news for AT&T customers.

In the city where I live, the whole downtown, and many other areas, is covered by free wifi that is open to everyone (no registration required). The airport also has free wifi.

Cheers.

I live in a one-starbucks town, but we have 3 McDonalds. Here's an overview of their wi-fi spots in the US:



Now what I'd like is a literal tethering option, where I physically connect my iPhone to my laptop and can use its WiFi connection.

do i need a different password at each location every 24hrs?

do i need a different password at each location every 24hrs?

Well I needed a different text link at the two different Starbucks I was at today. I tried the first one at the second one, but no luck. I also wish it didn't keep logging you off at one location whenever you might press the sleep button, and then make you have to go back to the SMS link every time you want to go on the internet. It would be great if it just kept you logged in for the entire duration you were at that location, no matter what you did with your phone. I guess it's hard to complain since it's free -- but it's almost so frustrating sometimes that you wonder if it's worth it. Having an original iPhone, it's a little more useful for me -- but my boyfriend, who has a 3G, never bothers to use it.

Well I needed a different text link at the two different Starbucks I was at today. I tried the first one at the second one, but no luck. I also wish it didn't keep logging you off at one location whenever you might press the sleep button, and then make you have to go back to the SMS link every time you want to go on the internet. It would be great if it just kept you logged in for the entire duration you were at that location, no matter what you did with your phone. I guess it's hard to complain since it's free -- but it's almost so frustrating sometimes that you wonder if it's worth it. Having an original iPhone, it's a little more useful for me -- but my boyfriend, who has a 3G, never bothers to use it.

I gave up on Starbucks Wifi because of it. It is quite silly. If you didn't have to type your phone number in each time, would be a beginning.

Now what I'd like is a literal tethering option, where I physically connect my iPhone to my laptop and can use its WiFi connection.

It's rumored to be coming as an official option with the 2.2 firmware and an upcoming announcement from AT&T.

I gave up on Starbucks Wifi because of it. It is quite silly. If you didn't have to type your phone number in each time, would be a beginning.

The T-Mobile S'bucks Wifi has this issue also... it's kind of annoying that it can't use cookies or something to keep your identity information. It's okay on a notebook but a big nuisance on an iPhone.

What limits people from using the iPhone to get the password and then using the password on their laptop computer? Doesn't this make tethering less of an issue for most people?

Not much option for wifi in North Dakota, but I'm on Rogers anyways, so I wouldn't get free Wifi anyways when visiting.

Now what I'd like is a literal tethering option, where I physically connect my iPhone to my laptop and can use its WiFi connection.

It's rumored to be coming as an official option with the 2.2 firmware and an upcoming announcement from AT&T.

See AT&T CEO Confirms iPhone Tethering Coming "Soon" news story.

Now what I'd like is a literal tethering option, where I physically connect my iPhone to my laptop and can use its WiFi connection.

Literal tethering would involve a string or rope. I think you want the non-literal version.

What you're describing is using one device as an 802.11 network adapter for the other, and I fail to see the real need for that. Does your laptop lack a WiFi card? It might be simpler to get a USB WiFi adapter instead.