Hot Comments
- About time! (5 points, Informative) by sackvillian on Tuesday February 09, @09:50AM attached to Call For Scientific Research Code To Be Released
- Re:Be careful using the P2V tool. (5 points, Informative) by klocwerk on Tuesday February 09, @03:41PM attached to The Hidden Treasures of Sysinternals
- W.A.G. (5 points, Insightful) by ipb on Tuesday February 09, @01:17PM attached to How Do You Accurately Estimate Programming Time?
- Re:Surprise (5 points, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 09, @04:38PM attached to Microsoft Says Windows 7 Not Killing Batteries
- Re:i'm going to get modded troll... (5 points, Insightful) by shutdown -p now on Tuesday February 09, @10:55AM attached to Space Shuttle Spy Gets 15 Years
5344819
story
Comments: 168 +- Hardware: Verizon FiOS/DSL Customers Get Free Wi-Fi Across US on Monday July 27 2009, @05:52PM
Posted
by
kdawson
on Monday July 27 2009, @05:52PM
from the windows-only dept.
from the windows-only dept.
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicwireless.gif); width:37px; height:77px;
wireless
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topicinternet.gif); width:70px; height:73px;
internet
background: url(//a.fsdn.com/sd/topics/topichardware.gif); width:64px; height:55px;
hardware
Glenn Fleishman lets us know that Verizon is finally offering nationwide Wi-Fi access to its high-speed Internet customers, long after Cablevision's similar service went live. While Cablevision is building out an in-house network of hotspots, Verizon is relying on a deal with Boingo Wireless — a strategy with both strengths and drawbacks, as Wi-Fi Net News points out. Neither Verizon's nor Boingo's announcement reveals the mechanics of how existing Verizon DSL and FiOS customers will get access, but an AP report spells it out: "To use a hotspot, the customer must install software that works only on computers with Windows Vista or XP installed. Phones, iPods, and Macintosh computers with Wi-Fi can't access the hotspots."
Related Stories
No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after
eating one peanut.
-- Channing Pollock
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 1997-2010 Geeknet, Inc.
Man, I wish I could have been in that meeting (Score:5, Funny)
Marketing Douche: Say, how about we offer mobile internet access that won't work with mobile devices.
PHB: Great idea!!
Re: (Score:2)
I thought a "Marketing Douche" was what one used after lying to one's customers for the umpteenth time, to get rid of that "not-so-fresh" feeling.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
If only I knew what WiFi was. Is it anything like SciFi? Does it come with my AMD K5 laptop, or do I need a separate device? Does it work anywhere, or only in certain locations like coffee shops?
Aside-
Other "free" things we privileged members of Verizon get include access to espn360.com and disneyconnection.com. Try to contain your excitement.
Re:Man, I wish I could have been in that meeting (Score:4, Funny)
I think they actually mean "WyFy", don't they?
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
This seems like a really bone-headed move to me. I'm writing this post from an iPhone at a Cablevision wifi ap right now. Cablevision has consistently improved their service recently to compete with Fios. I just subscribe to basic cable modem, which is your standard $50 a month. Recently they increased the bandwidth to 20 Meg down, 2 Meg up. I really appreciate having good upstream bandwidth. For $10 more a month, if you really want, they'll bump you up to something like 30/5.
I get free wifi all over
Re:Man, I wish I could have been in that meeting (Score:4, Insightful)
This is Verizon you're talking about here. They have this control thing- and moreover, if you're using a Cellphone/PDA, you're supposed to be using their more expensive EvDO service you know... :-D
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
you're supposed to be using their more expensive EvDO service you know... :-D
You mean the crippled "internet" service that you can't use for anything other than e-mail/web browsing and VPN?
Re: (Score:2)
Hey now, you can also peruse Verizon's walled garden of cherry picked non-free-as-in-beer content. that's cool too, right? Right?
Sadly . . . (Score:4, Insightful)
Reverse engineering in 3, 2, 1... (Score:5, Interesting)
"To use a hotspot, the customer must install software that works only on computers with Windows Vista or XP installed. ..."
How long until THAT is reverse-engineered? (And/or will it run under WINE? Is it a control app or something that goes into the protocol stack?)
Re: (Score:2)
Being pretty ignorant when it comes to things like this, I have to ask what is probably an ignorant question: it was intentional that they made it work only with vista or XP? I thought it was just that they were too lazy to add support for anything else.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Given the rich variety provided on this list of supported devices [boingo.com] from Boingo, I would have to say that it must have been intentional douchebaggery on Verizon's part. (i.e. if no one uses the 'free' access, then Verizon doesn't have to pay for it)
Re: (Score:2)
I have to ask what is probably an ignorant question: it was intentional that they made it work only with vista or XP? I thought it was just that they were too lazy to add support for anything else.
It pretty much has to be intentional. There's no shortage of off-the-shelf wifi access points that implement standard Internet protocols, and work with anything. You can walk into any Radio Shack or Best Buy outlet and walk out with one. If this isn't true for their access points, they had to have bypassed all th
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
I'm of two minds about this.. Sure, it will probably be reverse engineered in a matter of weeks so no big deal. On the other hand, why should it be up to the community to do this? I think it's better overall that not a single iPhone, Mac, Linux or other device works on their network. That way they will ship a proper client and support it. If it's reverse engineered they can easily say, "We don't support that," and still get the benefit of subscriptions.
Re: (Score:2)
I was with you until I discovered that I would have to go to a McDonald's or a Starbucks in order to get service in my area. I don't see that happening so I guess I just don't care now. And yes, I'm a Verizon DSL customer.
So, in other words (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Heh... But what if you're not using a laptop, hm? There's quite a few devices that would have used this nicely enough, including WinCE devices that just won't be doing anything of the sort now.
It's quite a bit less useful than they could have made it, regardless of how useful it might have been to you...
Included software count over/under (Score:3, Insightful)
TCP stack crash included at no extra charge (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
If the announced service, and the associated software, is anything like the homicidal obstacle course they have for what passes as Customer Service, then expect it to be the use-it-until-you-have-to-deal-with-a-human disposable technology that most mass-produced electronics have become.
It's great until it breaks, at which point it is tossed and replaced with the newest iteration of the same technology. Exactly as planned. Only thing different this time around is that they have integrated the strategy into S
Qwest (Score:3, Interesting)
Qwest DSL customers have free access to AT&T wifi hotspots, including at Starbucks and McDonald's. This is for anyone using Qwest's DSL connections, regardless of their choice of ISP.
Re: (Score:2)
Qwest DSL customers have free access to AT&T wifi hotspots, including at Starbucks and McDonald's. This is for anyone using Qwest's DSL connections, regardless of their choice of ISP.
Really? Currently I use cable my ISP gets through ComCast but they offer DSL through Qwest as well. Though I don't spend as much tyme there as I used to I could spend more tyme at Barnes and Noble which has ATT hotspots.
Falcon
Windows only? Boingo Has an OS X Client (Score:5, Interesting)
This is odd, because Boingo has an OS X client for accessing their service. If Verizon is using them as the provider, why would it be locked out?
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Posting from a Mac with my secondary display packed with terminal sessions into about a dozen Linux machines.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
What is the Boingo software and why should I download it?
How can Boingo software not be required for my laptop, but Boingo software IS required for my "Wi-Fi enabled device"?
I thought the Boingo software just made it "easy" to find Boingo member networks, and to automatically supply your user ID / password. If it's possible to just scan for the network, and then log in with a username / password, why wouldn't I be able to do that with my WiFi capable BlackBerry and "Hotspot" browser?
No FIOS here, but... (Score:2)
...if I downgrade my broadband speed by a factor of 5-10 from cable, and downgrade my OS to one of their supported honeypots, there'll be some areas where I can get free WiFi. Yay.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
...if I downgrade my broadband speed by a factor of 5-10 from cable
You have a 300Mbps cable connection? What market is that in?
No software needed for AT&T customers (Score:3, Informative)
AT&T does the same for their broadband customers. Free wifi at McDonald's, Starbucks and many other places. The biggest difference is that you do not need any specially dumb software to connect.
Verizon on the other hand require particularly dumb software that works only on limited set of OSes and according to this: http://forums.verizon.com/t5/Verizon-at-Home-Blog/Verizon-Brings-Free-Wi-Fi-to-Millions-of-Broadband-Customers/ba-p/59727;jsessionid=51BB9F7245B9EA45C39F3F2F9A5DB41D#A76 [verizon.com]
sits in the background and continuously scans for a Verizon wifi hotspot. Who comes up with these brain-dead ideas to slow down customers' computers?
BTW, I am a Verizon FIOS customer and I tried to place a comment on their blog entry, linked above. I could not do that, even after I logged in using my Verizon credentials. They kept asking me to login. But I am already logged in, you dumbasses. Sometimes I wonder how is it that Verizon can stay in business. These people are utterly clueless. And dont get me started on their "customer portal". A bunch of monkey can put together a better user interface than that. I sometimes have to use it to pay bills/update credit card on file etc. And I cringe at the thought of ever having to use it.
Mac OS X works... (Score:2)
TFA: "It's available for Mac OS X and Windows."
Re: (Score:2)
is not available on Macintosh, Windows XP 64-bit, or Windows 7 operating systems.
Until it magically works with Windows 7 after it's publicly available.
Level heads (Score:2, Insightful)
Verizon has little incentive to refuse access to portable devices or Macs or anybody else for that matter. They're probably not into Windows evangelism nor do they really benefit from offering a "free" service that nobody can use (roll out costs will trump usage costs for the near term and if the service isn't used it won't attract more customers anyway). Finally,
Re:Level heads (Score:4, Informative)
Oh, no... This is truly a Verizon gem.
Here's the Link [verizon.com] :-)
And here's the VerizonWiFi link for the service...
The software's only available for Windows and only intended for "laptops" right at the moment- they're not using Boingo's usual software, it's something special for Verizon.
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Arrgh... Boggled the link to the service webpage...
Here it is, in unbroken form [verizon.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Verizon Wi-Fi is not available for PDAs, phones, desktop PCs or Macs.
Not available for desktop PCs? What exactly is the difference between a laptop and a desktop running Windows, except for form factor?
This is an incredibly stupid decision for Verizon to make, and for Boingo to go along with. Bad business sense.
Re: (Score:2)
Correct approach (Score:2)
Obviously this is a stupid way to do it (sounds like they may just have an authenticated vpn run on the client), but what is the best way to implement this without opening up your clients to MITM attacks (both from fake hotspots and malicious hotspot owners)?
A secured web gateway/proxy, seams like a solution that would work anywhere and would be pretty simple stuff for an ISP to setup. (explain https at the login page to prevent fake hotspots)
enterprise WPA2 solutions may be even better (less overhead) and
well, this is useless (Score:2)
We are FIOS customers. Mobile devices have gotten good enough that we prefer to leave the laptops at home in favor of a pair of wifi-enabled smartphones and an iPod Touch. This "service" is therefore useless to us.
It occurs to me that there is, therefore, still a market for hotspots at mom-n-pop establishments, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. As long as the big monolithic companies keep shooting themselves in the foot like this, we'll continue to have choices, even though coverage may be somewhat
Apple dominates the $1000+ computer market (Score:3, Insightful)
Their users don't need no steenkin' free wifi! They're all waiting for Apple to roll out $100/month wifi with the rounded corners!
Re:This is fucking BULLSHIT, and it has mshaft (Score:5, Funny)
Show me, on this doll, where Verizon touched you.
Parent
Re:This is fucking BULLSHIT, and it has mshaft (Score:5, Funny)
ALL OVER
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Heh... You'll get better results without the language... ;-)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Troll? (Score:5, Insightful)
It's not an anti-Windows troll...
If you use MacOS or Linux, it truly IS worthless. Moreover, it axes many useful usages, like a Nokia N770/N8X0/N9XXX mobile device, which uses Linux as it's main OS; and we won't get into the other WinCE devices which would have used it as well.
It's a short-sighted thing they've done here. Seriously.
Parent
Re:Troll? (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Heh... That's if you're not already getting it. I'm already spending the cash (and a bit more than that...) for my FiOS service, so it's annoying to say the least that I can't take them up on the silly thing- all because they're Windows happy (and they are that...) over there at Verizon.