Here's some news you can use maybe.
Free Wi-Fi at McDonald's http://www.mcdonalds.com/wireless.html and at Starbucks http://www.starbucks.com/retail/wireless.asp
One can obtain a FREE AT&T account with a Starbucks debit card, which can also be used to log in at McDonald's. At least those I've been to. No electrical outlets to plug into at McDonald's though.
To get a Starbucks debit card, you just get one at the Starbucks counter. You put money on it, then use it to buy Starbucks products.
With the number on the Starbucks card, you can set up an account at http://www.starbucks.com/retail/wireless.asp
Note that you need an operating web connection to to set up the account, so you can't do it during a Starbucks visit unless someone who is logged on lets you use her account.
That page says that you're limited to two hours a day, but even when I've been cut off, I just logged back in.
Useful if traveling or problems with your DSL at home. Speed here at this McDonald's (I'm having my oil changed) is 905 kbps, about half again as fast as my DSL at home.
I dunno if you have to buy anything at McDonald's. I bought a small soda ($1.09). Comes with free unlimited refills. There's a sign by the soda machine that says:
'PLEASE. Free Refills for the same visit only. Do not bring in an empty cup for free refills'
Too bad! That was to be my strategy.
Relevance? A way for squadrons to do online testing?
Cadet Bloggs... you know better than to bother me with a safety issue when eating my Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese value meal and playing SOCOM: TS or Modding CAP Talk on my PSP... Go drill in the parking lot.
Missions, staff meetings, last minute vehicle reports
Quote from: MIKE on August 02, 2008, 01:46:49 AM
Relevance? A way for squadrons to do online testing?
Cadet Bloggs... you know better than to bother me with a safety issue when eating my Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese value meal and playing SOCOM: TS or Modding CAP Talk on my PSP... Go drill in the parking lot.
You run SOCOM on your laptop at McDonalds...? ::)
Quote from: SAR-EMT1 on August 02, 2008, 02:47:48 AM
You run SOCOM on your laptop at McDonalds...? ::)
Playstation Portable 2.0, n00b... it's wi-fi enabled.
Ground team contact to mission base?
Quote from: MIKE on August 02, 2008, 02:54:52 AM
Quote from: SAR-EMT1 on August 02, 2008, 02:47:48 AM
You run SOCOM on your laptop at McDonalds...? ::)
Playstation Portable 2.0, n00b... it's wi-fi enabled.
I HATE Sony. Im an XBOX lovin HALO addict myself.
Maybe I misread your post. But to me free means absence of payment, gratis, or no cost. In your post-and in McDonalds website-it specificaly sates buy a card or pay online. NOT FREE!!
I do know that Panera bread does have free web access and so do some Office depot stores. But again according to the websites neither McD's or Starbucks do.
Looks like you aren't paying for the service, you are paying to buy a card that can be used for other merchandise
Quote from: Cecil DP on August 02, 2008, 08:44:44 AM
Maybe I misread your post. But to me free means absence of payment, gratis, or no cost. In your post-and in McDonald's website-it specificaly sates buy a card or pay online. NOT FREE!!
I do know that Panera bread does have free web access and so do some Office depot stores. But again according to the websites neither McD's or Starbucks do.
As I stated, one gets a Starbuck card and puts money on it (like a debit card). The money stored on the card is not used unless one buys something.
The numbers on that card permit one to set up an AT&T wireless account that gives free access at Starbucks and McDonald's. The Starbucks page states that the card must be used ONCE A MONTH to keep the wireless account active.
Regardless (or irregardless, as they say in New Jersey), of what is stated on the McDonald's page, the wireless at all the McDonald's I've tested is AT&T and the Starbucks AT&T account works perfectly there for free.
One can buy a cup of green tea for $1.40 once a month for FREE wireless access for that entire month. You're completely correct; I was totally wrong. It's not absolutely free. It's $1.40 a month. Assuming the "month use rule" is enforced, which i have not tested.
Quote from: IceNine on August 02, 2008, 06:16:07 PM
Looks like you aren't paying for the service, you are paying to buy a card that can be used for other merchandise
But that means by associated usages you are in fact paying for the service. Even if you buy the card and don't use it for anything, just to keep for the WiFi, they hooked you. It is one of the older practices in marketing and small business retail.
They are smart. They would not be in business if they were not making a profit off everything. Take for example the poster above who went into the McDonalds to use their internet, and bought a small beverage. That would be the common practice of most that went into the store just to use the internet, and McDonalds is betting on that practice.
I studied Marketing, and there are many ways consumers are "outsmarted" by business. You would be surprised how we spend our lives because subconsciously the business community is "brainwashing" the populace.
Anyway I don't visit Starbucks anymore since they changed their roast. It plain SUCKS now. I also don't eat at McDonalds since their meat patties shrunk to almost nonexistence.
Quote from: mikeylikey on August 02, 2008, 08:02:54 PM
You would be surprised how we spend our lives because subconsciously the business community is "brainwashing" the populace.
If you are susceptible to branwashing, I suggest you not get a Starbucks card for free internet access. In fact, I think you should avoid the internet altogether.
Those of us who have T-Mobile's unlimited data plan can also use the Hotspots for free (check your plan, I was dropping $30 a month for data, including $10 a month for Hotspot use when I was traveling a lot, and they changed the unlimited plan to include Hotspot at $20 a month, but of course don't tell you unless you ask).
I picked up a Venti iced this afternoon and asked about my local SB and they indicated that they would be transitioning to AT&T soon and in the interim you will see both services in the stores.
How they are able to continue to charge for access when Panera, Caribou and your local library offer it for free are beyond me.
Thankfully the times (in the field) when I need more speed than a tethered MDA (Edge) will provide are few and far between.
Quote from: Eclipse on August 02, 2008, 10:31:10 PM
I picked up a Venti iced this afternoon and asked about my local SB and they indicated that they would be transitioning to AT&T soon and in the interim you will see both services in the stores.
I would not rely on the statements of store employees as to the AT&T availablity status. At my local, they had no clue. My suggestion is just bring your laptop and see what wireless it picks up.
Quote from: dogboy on August 02, 2008, 11:06:58 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on August 02, 2008, 10:31:10 PM
I picked up a Venti iced this afternoon and asked about my local SB and they indicated that they would be transitioning to AT&T soon and in the interim you will see both services in the stores.
I would not rely on the statements of store employees as to the AT&T availability status. At my local, they had no clue. My suggestion is just bring your laptop and see what wireless it picks up.
The issue here being that when T-Mobile goes dark, I may be frequenting Caribou more, since I'm not going to pay extra for iNet.
Quote from: SAR-EMT1 on August 02, 2008, 05:07:23 AMI HATE Sony. Im an XBOX lovin HALO addict myself.
There's two kinds of people on this earth. The ultimate, being Playstation people - and then those just not making the cut: XBOX people.
Then, really, the third group consists of those with things like the Gamecube and Dreamcast.
;D
:P