Google to help set up free WiFi blanket in NYC’s Southwest Chelsea neighborhood

While Google's offered free WiFi access in NYC subways from time to time, it's apparently now set to help get a permanent solution live in a Manhattan neighborhood. There are no details regarding a time-frame, but the company's linked up with the Chelsea Improvement Company to provide the access in Southwest Chelsea. Aside from the perks of pro bono interwebs for all, the initiative will serve to provide internet to likes of low-income and student housing in the locale -- though, it seems a natural undertaking given Google's office in the area. At the very least, it's another nice chip toward municipal WiFi in the Big Apple. Full presser after the break.

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Via: Yahoo! News, BGR

EE strikes deal with Virgin Media to give its customers free tube WiFi in 2013 (update: Vodafone, too)

EE strikes deal with Virgin Media to give its customers free tube WiFi in 2013 (update: Vodafone too)

Londoners enjoyed not only "the greatest show on earth" this summer, but also free tube WiFi courtesy of Virgin Media. It's due to remain complimentary for what's left of the year, but if you're with EE, you'll be able to continue updating your status from subterranean platforms in 2013. The UK's first 4G provider has struck a deal to hook its customers up to Virgin's underground WiFi infrastructure, although the announcement seems to have gone out a little earlier than planned. EE tweeted the news then swiftly retracted it, but has since replied to Mr. Miles at Pocket-lint confirming the partnership, at least for however long that message stays... yep, it's gone. If you're not on EE, don't get your sad face on just yet, as there are rumors circulating that other carriers will be piggybacking on Virgin's hotspots, too -- they just haven't accidentally announced it yet.

Update: It's now officially official, and Vodafone's on board as well. Next year, tube WiFi will stay free for those signed with either EE or Voda, and Virgin will be offering pay-as-you-go options for those that aren't: daily, weekly or monthly access from £2 per day (roughly $3.20). Virgin is also hooking up another 48 stations, with 20 due to be switched on this December and 28 in early 2013. If you're wondering whether your local station is one of the score being hooked up this month, they're all listed in the PR below.

Continue reading EE strikes deal with Virgin Media to give its customers free tube WiFi in 2013 (update: Vodafone, too)

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Via: Pocket-lint

Source: EE (Twitter), Stuart Miles (Twitter)

Sandy got you down? Comcast offering free WiFi to affected regions, iTunes allowing Red Cross donations

Sandy got you down Comcast offering free options to affected regions, iTunes allowing Red Cross donations

Hurricane Sandy's taken out more than the electricity of hundreds of thousands of Northeastern USers -- it's also pillaged the internet connections of many, leaving our Netflix and Hulu Plus subscriptions unused, and subsequently our Eddie Murphy '80s movie marathons unmarathoned. Comcast understands this to be the dire situation it is, and is offering its Xfinity WiFi service free of charge for folks living in Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C., and West Virginia (sans New York City, as there aren't any hotspots in the Big Apple, sadly). Just select "Complimentary Trial" from the landing page and you're in like Flynn until November 7 (when the deal ends).

Or perhaps you're one of our lucky readers unaffected by the crazy hurricane? Apple's got an opportunity through iTunes for direct donation to the American Red Cross, should you wish to help out our friends suffering through worse than just lacking internet. Donation increments range from $5 to $200 -- just sign into iTunes and click the Red Cross advert below New Music.

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Sandy got you down? Comcast offering free WiFi to affected regions, iTunes allowing Red Cross donations originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sandy got you down? Comcast offering free WiFi to affected regions, iTunes allowing Red Cross donations

Sandy got you down Comcast offering free options to affected regions, iTunes allowing Red Cross donations

Hurricane Sandy's taken out more than the electricity of hundreds of thousands of Northeastern USers -- it's also pillaged the internet connections of many, leaving our Netflix and Hulu Plus subscriptions unused, and subsequently our Eddie Murphy '80s movie marathons unmarathoned. Comcast understands this to be the dire situation it is, and is offering its Xfinity WiFi service free of charge for folks living in Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C., and West Virginia (sans New York City, as there aren't any hotspots in the Big Apple, sadly). Just select "Complimentary Trial" from the landing page and you're in like Flynn until November 7 (when the deal ends).

Or perhaps you're one of our lucky readers unaffected by the crazy hurricane? Apple's got an opportunity through iTunes for direct donation to the American Red Cross, should you wish to help out our friends suffering through worse than just lacking internet. Donation increments range from $5 to $200 -- just sign into iTunes and click the Red Cross advert below New Music.

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Sandy got you down? Comcast offering free WiFi to affected regions, iTunes allowing Red Cross donations originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virgin Media extends free tube WiFi for all until 2013

Virgin Media extends free tube WiFi for all until 2013

Tweeting about the obnoxious individuals you share a tube platform with was expected to be a one-time thing if you weren't a Virgin Media customer. The Branson-backed provider had said that, once the summer games had finished, it would make the service exclusive to its own broadband subscribers. Now, however, the company has reversed that decision, extending the free period through until the end of the year. The Telegraph is reporting that the turnaround is in part thanks to wholesale talks with other ISPs, who are keen to offer the service as part of their own packages. Given that we're unlikely to make it into the stratosphere or the bottom of the ocean any time soon, we'll settle for pretending we're a daring explorer of the Piccadilly line.

Continue reading Virgin Media extends free tube WiFi for all until 2013

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Virgin Media extends free tube WiFi for all until 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 04:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Next Web  |  sourceThe Telegraph  | Email this | Comments

Microsoft backs free Boingo WiFi in NYC and San Francisco, hopes you’ll see Metro on the metro

New York City subway stop

Microsoft is about to launch a giant media blitz for Windows 8, and it wants to guarantee that even those of us heads-down in our laptops and smartphones take notice. It's sponsoring Boingo's WiFi, making it free at popular locations in New York City and San Francisco through the holidays to pitch both its new OS and the Windows Store. The San Francisco locations are already active and mostly cover signature locations such as Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square, but Microsoft is going all-out for the New York City campaign starting November 1st: the free WiFi will reach over 200 locations in Manhattan as well as the six NYC subway stations offering underground wireless. While some might not enjoy the hard sell on Windows 8 while they're checking into Foursquare, we'd say it's at least relevant that Microsoft pushes its urban sign UI in the city that was arguably the software's major inspiration.

[Image credit: pspyro2009, Flickr]

Continue reading Microsoft backs free Boingo WiFi in NYC and San Francisco, hopes you'll see Metro on the metro

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Microsoft backs free Boingo WiFi in NYC and San Francisco, hopes you'll see Metro on the metro originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GOWEX bringing free WiFi to French rail stations, starting with Marseille

GOWEX bringing free WiFi to French rail stations

We take free WiFi at our transportation hubs for granted here in the US. (Heck, we've even got it deep in the bowels of NYC.) In other countries, it's not a given that you'll have high-speed broadband at your disposal while waiting for a train or plane. France is working on it though, with GOWEX signing a deal with the National Society of French Rail (SNCF) to bring wireless internet to rail stations across the nation. The first part of the puzzle will be the bustling Marseille St. Charles in the south of France. At some point in 2013 (though, the company refused to specify when) the switch will be flipped and tourists in and around the Marseille station will be able to enjoy 512Kbps internet for free. For a few more details check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading GOWEX bringing free WiFi to French rail stations, starting with Marseille

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GOWEX bringing free WiFi to French rail stations, starting with Marseille originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK retailer Game promises free in-store WiFi, asks only that you visit

UK retailer Game promises free instore WiFi, asks only that you visitEver put a game back on the shelf because Metacritic took too long to load? Fortunately, the UK's largest (and wobbliest) games retailer is aware of the impediment and has decided to offer free Wi-Fi in all 341 of its premises before Christmas. The service will be part of BT WiFi's network of hotspots and aim to give gamers access to "all the information they need to buy there and then."

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UK retailer Game promises free in-store WiFi, asks only that you visit originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wall Street Journal to offer free WiFi hotspots in NYC and San Francisco during September

Wall Street Journal to offer free WiFi hotspots in NYC and San Francisco during September

Oh New Yorkers and their marvelous, no-cost WiFi access points. Only a few days after Google Offers and Boingo happily announced they'd brought gratis wireless connectivity to additional underground locations within the city, The Wall Street Journal is now let it be known it too will be kind enough to gift the NYC crowd with some WiFi hotspots of its own. The nice gesture will bring around 1,300 network units to areas such as SoHo, Greenwich Village, Union Square, Chelsea and, naturally, the renowned Times Square during the month of September -- all in hopes of giving "people the opportunity to sample The Wall Street Journal." Meanwhile, folks in San Francisco can also grab the internet-friendly freebies in a couple of different places, including Nob Hill and Fisherman's Wharf. And don't worry, there won't be any donkeys involved here.

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Wall Street Journal to offer free WiFi hotspots in NYC and San Francisco during September originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boingo snaps up Cloud Nine Media to expand its ad-sponsored WiFi network

Boingo snaps up Cloud Nine Media to expand its ad-sponsored WiFi network

Boingo tried its hand at free WiFi with Google earlier this summer, and now it's acquired Cloud Nine Media to help it claim a larger slice of the sponsored internet access pie. Though Boingo's 500,000 subscription-based access points vastly outnumber its acquisition's 6,000 ad-sponsored locations, it hopes to use the newly purchased company's hotspot sponsorship and ad-sales expertise to increase its free WiFi footprint. "This acquisition allows us to bring that capability in-house to better serve our growing need to deliver sponsored WiFi," Boingo CEO David Hagan told AllThingsD. Naturally, the firm's $9.95-a-month plan will live on, but it's good to know that Boingo will enable more folks to surf the web free of charge from here on out.

[Image credit: Charleston's TheDigitel, Flickr]

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Boingo snaps up Cloud Nine Media to expand its ad-sponsored WiFi network originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 07:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourcePC World, AllThingsD  | Email this | Comments