Posted on 12/16/2009 4:06:15 PM PST by Poser
Starting in January 2010, US McDonald's restaurants will no longer charge for Wi-Fi: The quick-service chain has service in 11,000 of its 14,000 locations in the US, and previously charge $2.95 for two hours access. The network is operated by AT&T, originally contracted by Wayport which was acquired by the phone giant last year. Most AT&T subscribers get free access at McDonald's, Starbucks, and a few thousand other locations...
(Excerpt) Read more at wifinetnews.com ...
This is Breaking News?
????????
LOL
Apparently it is for Poser.
Absolutely, now we will be able to surf the web while we dine.
I thought the one in Dandridge TN was already free.
Well you *DO* deserve a break (ing news) today? Right?
“This is Breaking News?”
Actually, it is. It just broke today. One dollar 16 ounce cups of decent coffee and free Wi-Fi is quite a development around here. It would be $3 at Dunkin or Starbucks.
They'll probably start selling FReepy Meals.
Dumb rookie question to anyone out there.....If we toss it in the car and go to Starbucks or MacDonald's, do we just fire it up and start FReeping?
Your laptop’s wireless card should start searching for wireless access points after you turn it on. Just select the one for McDonalds and log on. Should be as simple as that.
Just dont let anyone at Starbucks see what you are reading. They might beat you to death with Free Trade Coffee beans.
“If we toss it in the car and go to Starbucks or MacDonald’s, do we just fire it up and start FReeping?”
Pretty much. You will have to select from the list of available networks and wait a few seconds before you start. In WinXP it’s a right click on the wireless icon in the lower right corner of the screen.
For those of us who tour the country on motorcycles in the summer, a netbook with a solid state hard drive and a McDonald’s is all we now need to communicate and do work on the road.
For me, this is significant news. Most small towns don’t have much free wireless. Now they do.
Reagan-fanatic ... see ya Friday on the OFST!
Probably just that easy, but keep in mind when you join a network outside of your own house, like in Mickey D's, or a hotel, you are now on a local network with a bunch of strangers. That's all fine, but make sure your laptop is sharing any files on the local network. It most likely is not, unless you set it up to do so.
Probably not a bad idea to make sure a firewall is running on the laptop too.
Here, BTW, is a transcript and audio from the "Security Now!" podcast on the very subject of public WiFi and security. This is a good podcast on the various issues of computer security.
That's all fine, but make sure your laptop is not sharing any files on the local network.
Who knew? Haven’t been to McDonald’s in years.
FYI on "free" WiFi - Link to article & numerous comments:
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