In a press release today, AT&T has started to offer free WiFi as part of their LaptopConnect data plans.
The users can access 17,000 hot spot locations of which 7,000 are Starbucks where AT&T has replaced T-Mobile recently in providing its customers with WiFi access. Current LaptopConnect customers will be alerted by a pop up when they are in range of a AT&T hot spot at which point they will have to download the latest AT&T Communication Manager to take advantage of the free service.
Customers with the $59.99 monthly access or higher on the LaptopConnect plan are eligible for the free service. The new AT&T Communication Manager can be downloaded here.
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Good move on AT&T’s part. This removes people from its cellular network and gives people faster data service. I have no idea how Sprint will compete unless they lower their price. They just don’t have the WiFi reach.
From the looks of things, AT&T is becoming consumer friendly day by day.
Another nail in the coffin of Sprint…
Sprint announces a 5GB limit on their data, and AT&T follows by announcing free, unlimited WiFi included at no extra cost- in thousands of locations nationwide, and all at the same price as Sprint’s data.
Now if AT&T wouold just lower their data price for smart phones, there would be no reason whatsoever for anyone to ever consider Sprint.
Nobody’s stopping you from using a smartphone on AT&T with MEdia Net…
You’re right. $15 on a smart phone and with Nokia and Motorola you can also use them as a modem. For Motorola you’d need Motorola Phone Tools though.
You don’t need MPT to use a Motorola phone as a modem.
How do you use it without MPT? I’ve never had luck doing it without MPT
With Bluetooth, or you download the latest Motorola USB drivers and just set up the connection manually.
There is absolutely no reason for MPT. All it does is enter in the login info and setup the dial-up connection for you. There’s no hidden drivers or communications layer… MPT’s internet setup is just a bunch of scripts.