AT&T Launching Free WiFi for Laptop Connect; All Smartphones Later in 2008

By on May 19, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Exclusive May 19, 2008

Here we go again! AT&T will be doing the free WiFi dance that we’ve all become familiar with, but this time it has nothing to do with iPhones. Starting tomorrow, Tuesday May 20th, all Laptop Connect customers will be able to enjoy free WiFi at each and every AT&T hotspot. AT&T’s internal correspondence on the matter:

Effective tomorrow, May 20th, the long-awaited FREE WiFi Access to over 17,000 WiFi locations throughout the U.S. launches for Laptop Connect Customers with plans $60 or higher. This exciting new feature will allow customers unlimited access to over 17,000 WiFi locations at no extra charge including locations in Starbucks and McDonalds. Customers will need three things for this free access:

  • A laptop card. FREE WiFi for Smartphones is not available yet, but will be later in 2008.
  • The latest version of Communication Manager (version 6.8). Once loaded this version will automatically log onto AT&T hotspots.
  • A Laptop Connect plan of $60 or greater.

Note that first bullet: “FREE WiFi for Smartphones is not available yet, but will be later in 2008.” Does that mean all smartphone users will soon be able to enjoy free WiFi? All of the sudden our drawers full of unlocked smartphones aren’t looking so hot! In the meantime, AT&T Laptop Connect customers, enjoy. Let’s all hope it sticks this time…

[Thanks, Anonymous Tipster]

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  • josh

    Does this mean anyphone with an iPhone plan will get a free laptop connect card? $60.00 or more per month. Seems too easy…

  • Joshua M.

    @josh LOL no you idiot… That would never work out our way.

    Anyway… This was top secret, somebody spilled the beans.

  • Jeff B.

    This is why I will always have a locked smartphone too because shit like this comes along and it makes you want a locked phone. This explains my posts about wanting this as my next locked or next unlocked.

    Wait, wait, whoa…this does include PDA phones too right?

  • msatlas

    Since there’s a price requirement on which Laptop plans are allowed to get free WiFi, it would stand to reason that not necessarily every Smartphone plan qualifies. The old plans are Smartphone Connect Unlimited ($20), PDA Connect Unlimited ($45 and then later $40), and then the current Smartphone plans are iPhone ($20) and PDA Personal ($35).

    They might do something like say “any Smartphone plan of $35 or higher.”

  • ustna

    Well my Moto Q Global does NOT have wifi, so I guess not ALL AT&T smartphones are included…

  • Dtest5477

    msatlas, they would not do the smartphone wifi without the iphones, thats been rumored for months now.

    I think all wifi smartphones / pda’s will get it eventually. I will be happy to see it too, went on a trip recently and saw alot of ATT hotspots where i could have used it, especially SeaTac Airport.

  • ChrisNYC

    Gotta love the AT&T advertisement on the ass-end of the card.

    They’re so clever. ;)

  • DavidB

    “A Laptop Connect plan of $60 or greater.”
    How many plans is that? AT&T’s laptop plans cost that much??? Geez, I thought VERIZON was expensive, and ATT can’t even provide 3G data rates in most places I go!!!

  • msatlas

    Right now I think the only Data Connect plan is 5 GB/month for $60. The “at least” is probably in there to cover people who are on older, cheaper plans.

    I’ll be interested to see how this shakes out on the PDA/smartphone plans. I really like my $20/month Smartphone Connect Unlimited. The free wifi would be a nice extra, even though I usually get very solid speeds from 3g on my Tilt.

  • Joshua M.

    @ msatlas

    Wow that must be an old plan when did put that on there

  • Jason

    The $20/month Smartphone Connect was available when the likes of the 2125 and 3125 were available from AT&T (Cingular at the time) and is grandfathered. It was not supposed to be sold for any PDA with a QWERTY keyboard. It was based off of the widely used wap.cingular APN public gateway and it doesn’t include access to the wider pipeline (read somewhat faster with data compression, etc.) that is the isp.cingular APN gateway. But hey, if it works for you more power to ya’!

  • Porsche

    This has been going on for a minute already. We currently have access to 70,000 hotspots for our customers. We will be at over 100,000+ after the completion of our Starbucks rollout. The AT&T connection manger even has a guide that will show you a directory (and no it’s not a link to Boingo!). It updates with the card software regularly. Any UPS store, any barnes and noble, and eventually all starbucks will offer free wifi with your iphone or laptop connect plan.

    Your sprint and Verizon plans have been $60 forever. Besides, Ralph De La Vega announced we would be 9 MB downloads in 2009. Lets see if verizon and sprint can issue all new hardware update the towers and software by then to keep up with the competition.

  • msatlas

    @ Joshua M.:

    I signed up for Smartphone Connect Unlimited back in September ’06 when I bought a 3125.

    @ Jason:

    The rep on the phone didn’t protest when I asked to upgrade my phone by extending the contract but keep my data plan. I just checked my connection settings and my Tilt is on wap.cingular, but I’ve tested as high as ~1250 kbps downloads. I figure might as well keep on that rather than have AT&T maybe ding me for using isp.cingular if I’m not supposed to.

  • The Sgt.

    Sprint already offers free wi-fi with their connection card plans. While they don’t have 17,000 (Damn that’s a lot!), they do have over 3,000. I’ve actually never had to use them though, gotta love RevA!

    http://www4.sprint.com/pcsbusiness/products_services/data/wifi/locator.jsp

  • http://hydepark.tumblr.com/page/1 HydePark

    Where’s the big news ?

  • http://www.ehlinelaw.com/ California Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

    How is it free if it costs 60 bucks?

  • http://www.dataflurry.com Search Engine Marketing Guru

    On my to-obtain list for my laptop – I just don’t get out of the house enough to benefit though. Lol

  • http://ipuh.com CCARE

    msatlas:

    It isnt a bad thing to change to isp.cingular. As a cust care rep for ATT Wireless, I can tell you that our system does sweeps. If it finds that you are on the incorrect data plan, it will add it without notice (common on I-Phones that REQUIRE data plan @30/mo for 3G) or will cap you off and block you if you are on PPU (pay-per-use.) Our sweeps run about every two-six months. good luck!

  • http://www.vplasvegaslaw.com Nevada Accident Lawyer

    Well my Moto Q Global does NOT have wifi, so I guess not ALL AT&T smartphones are included

  • http://www.injuryattorney-losangeles.com Los Angeles Lawyer

    First of all, AT&T has to be one of the worst cellphone service providers I have ever experienced. I’m not sure how they claim to provide “free” anything when they never deliver what they promise.

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