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McDonald's to Offer Free Wi-Fi?
As we've often lamented, there simply isn't enough free or open Wi-Fi access in public spaces anymore. It's rare that you'll find a hot-spot that either doesn't require a password or some kind of fee to access it, making the prevalent use of Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, MP3 players, smart phones, and other wireless devices somewhat difficult (we wouldn't care, except that certain gadgets, such as the MacBook Air, actually require the availability of a much-hyped Wi-Fi hotspot to connect, at least without an adapter).
So we were happy when we heard that AT&T just bought public-Wi-Fi provider Wayport, which operates about 20,000 wireless hotspots in airports, hotels (Marriott, Wyndham, Four Seasons) and restaurants (McDonald's). Why? Because, as Mashable points out, many avid laptop users are hoping that AT&T will offer the same deal to McDonald's customers that it offers to Starbucks customers, which is two hours of free Wi-Fi per day to anyone with an AT&T iPhone or BlackBerry, a Starbucks Card, a T-Mobile Wi-Fi-enabled phone or T-Mobile Hotspot account, or AT&T broadband service at home. (McDonald's already offers free wireless access to the Zune Marketplace for Microsoft Zune owners.)
Presumably that means that McDonald's might soon be offering a prepaid buyer's card along the lines of the Starbucks Card (which only needs to be used once a month to keep the free stuff going). Many of the blogs out there seem to think free Wi-Fi at McDonald's is a good thing, but we don't know the last time we wanted to mix our greasy Big-Mac-and-French-Fry-smeared hands and our pristine laptops (not to mention fingerprint-prone iPhone touchscreens).
And honestly, with the price of Quarter Pounders (not to mention Venti Lattes) lately, we're just as keen to pony up the $7.95- $21.95 a month fee for Boingo Wireless, which gives us unlimited access to not only Wayport and Boingo-affiliated wireless hotspots around the world, but also those of T-Mobile and AT&T.
After all, who actually plans to go to McDonald's? Isn't it usually a spontaneous, reckless binge that you fully regret later? And while we're on the subject, would you rather work or surf the Web in McDonald's or Starbucks? Do tell! [From: Mashable and AOL Money & Finance]
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Comments
6
Subscribe to commentsBarbara GreeneNov 7th 2008 4:31PM
Please, let's not ruin my McDonald's trip by using the word "healthy." I go for the fries, and I do plan my trips there. I hope I'll be able to use the laptop there, too, soon. It's to their advantage, make it nice to sit and work, people will stay longer, order more.
LindaNov 7th 2008 4:45PM
I eat at McDonald's almost every day. I don't know why everyone is so bent in dissing them. You are what you eat whether you eat at home or fast food. I have bloodwork done every 4 months since I am a diabetic and also have high cholesterol. My bloodwork is fine and the only thing that was out of range was triglycerides. I also have lost 38 pounds but since everyone thinks they are ungodly, I guess my Dr. is just stupid. My sugar was a 6.0. I think that is pretty good for a diabetic with cholesterol problems. McDonald's couldn't win for losing but I guarantee you one thing when they are they only place you can find to work like it is here, I hope they ask you if you are one of the people that slings mud at them and they tell you NO they don't need you.
Lacy RobinsonNov 7th 2008 6:30PM
We have a McDonalds here in Greenville, South Carolina that offers free Wi-Fi to everyone if you are a customer.
Lacy
GalleyNov 7th 2008 7:20PM
Beat me to it!
jmpngtigerNov 8th 2008 10:08AM
Hey, with the new McCafes coming into our area, we're getting great specialty coffees for a lot less than $tarbuck$, so the wi-fi seems like a natural extension of that. The Mochas are great, by the way.
E HunterNov 9th 2008 7:49AM
What most folks dont know is that you can already get free wi-fi at McDonalds. If you have AT&T or Bellsouth or sbcglobal or any of a host of AT&T affiliated companies, you can use your DSL login and password to connect at McDonalds.