Login:
Password:
Lost Password?
Print this article  |  E-mail this article  |  Comment on this article

Free T-Mobile Hotspot for Vista Users

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

January 24, 2007, 2:39 PM

As part of its promotional efforts surrounding the launch of Windows Vista, Microsoft said Wednesday that for 90 days after the debut of the next-generation operating system, customers would be able to use T-Mobile Hotspot Wi-Fi for free on laptops running Vista. Those with advance copies of the operating system would be able to take advantage of the program beginning January 26, Microsoft said.

The service would be available at any of T-Mobile's 8,234 locations across the United States, including Starbucks, Borders bookstores, FedEx Kinko's location, select Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, airports, and the airline clubs of American, Delta, United and US Airways. The only requirement to access the service is a computer with Windows Vista installed.

Add a Comment (16 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

Name (required):

E-mail (required):

Enter Your Comment:

By riverrun1938

edited Mar 14, 2007 - 9:03 PM

I have used every Windows version from 5 to XP Pro. I recently bought Vista Home Premium.(350Euro) None of the previous versions have annoyed me as much as Vista. Having installed, I discovered that I will have to buy another Nikon Scan-doesn't accept LS3, also my Epson scanner is obsolete. Further, I must also buy Norton IS 2007.I had purchased a better Graphics card also. (WinXP Pro recognized all the above.) Vista Mail is dire compared with outlook Express. The 'Eye Candy' soon becomes irritating. With the extra outlay needed to get it going as good as XP will be enough to buy a 'powerful' PC. Hope a Service Pack comes soon! I have reverted to XP and will wait to see what 'Vienna' brings. To be blunt,Microsoft is ripping off thousands.Beware!

Score: 0

By DraconPern

edited Jan 28, 2007 - 6:57 PM

Well, I can confirm that the deal is real. However, it doesn't work (1/28). The button on the skysurprise site doesn't take you to an account sign up page. I am at a Starbucks (Lubbock, TX) and the t-mobile landing page doesn't mention anything about the Vista promotion. I did manage to find the promotion on T-mobile's website (http://hotspot.t-mobile.com) *after* I signed up for the 1 day free trial. After I got the account, I tried to logon to the hotspot with the new promotion account, but it just kept refreshing the same page over and over, seems like it's trying to figure out if the computer is Vista or not(https://service2.hotspot.t-mobil.com/home). I am running Vista Ultimate, and yes it's genuine. Now, I can't even logoff and log back in with a normal T-mobile hotspot account. They better fix this fast otherwise instead of a promotion it will look more like an embarrassment. Now I am using some random access point around here.

Score: 0

By Rick Mahn

posted Jan 25, 2007 - 10:30 AM

Very interesting. I'd still like to see a confirmation on this news bite though. This is definitely a PR move by Microsoft. T-Mobile WiFi is around $30/month in the U.S., so if this is a permanent freebie, it's worth $360/yr.

Score: 0

By AkumaKuruma

edited Jan 25, 2007 - 11:09 AM

If by permanent, you mean the 90 days that it says it will last.

Score: 0

By tickko

posted Jan 25, 2007 - 9:34 PM

Maybe we should all put down our computers and learn to read.

The first sentence of the article reads, "...Microsoft said Wednesday that for 90 days after the debut of the next-generation operating system, customers would be able to use T-Mobile Hotspot Wi-Fi for free on laptops running Vista."

90 days is unfortunately only 1/4 (.25) of a year. Making it a grand total of $90 savings.

Either way it's a great marketing scheme, having people sit around coffee shops showing off Microsoft's new operating system. I can just see the conversation now...

Dork 1: Is that an Apple?
Dork 2: No, it's a Dell with Windows VistA.
Dork 1: Wow, the edges of the windows are transparent?
Dork 2: Yeah...

[Both put their head phones on and continue to think they look cool with their 17" laptops]

Score: 0

By gabworld

posted Jan 25, 2007 - 9:26 AM

I have been looking for a confirmation link on this one. Does anybody have one?

Score: 0

By piers

edited Jan 25, 2007 - 8:58 AM

The article mentions that this is going on in the US, but what about in the UK? I've got Vista on my laptop and want to know if I can take advantage of this offer?

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Jan 24, 2007 - 6:33 PM

Worth about $20. Not too shabby. I imagine MS wants people to see vista in the public eye.

Score: 0

By treworld

posted Jan 25, 2007 - 1:53 PM

...And how slow it runs on their laptops. =T

Score: 0

By Black-Wolf

posted Jan 24, 2007 - 5:09 PM

What an useless free add-on!

Score: 0

By canv15

posted Jan 24, 2007 - 5:37 PM

thats is so sweet, what, are you one of those MS haters. I think is a pretty good idea. free internet and you call it useless.

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Jan 24, 2007 - 6:01 PM

Just steal next-door's open WIFI connection.

Score: 0

By canv15

posted Jan 24, 2007 - 6:42 PM

shuussss, I got so mad at the lady next door that I actually went and secured her network because all my stuff was connecting to her.

Score: 0

By Type-E

posted Jan 25, 2007 - 1:48 AM

That's your problem, she have a door unlocked, and you are blaming her for you going in automatically. What are you smoking?

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Jan 24, 2007 - 8:08 PM

If all your stuff is automatically connecting to an unsecured network, then you have a serious network security problem yourself. NO device should ever connect to an unsecured node unless told to do so.

Score: 0

Oct 13 - 11:57 AM ET CBS goes after Hulu by aligning with YouTube

Oct 13 - 11:25 AM ET Microsoft finds published exploit of Vista privilege elevation hole

Oct 11 - 11:16 AM ET Things left unsaid, in a recent interview with Sony's CEO

Oct 11 - 11:03 AM ET EU regulations block Italian ISPs from blocking Pirate Bay

Oct 11 - 10:55 AM ET Making it to Apple's App Store by staying out of court

Oct 10 - 7:43 PM ET Wal-Mart changes its mind, leaves existing DRM servers up

Oct 10 - 7:05 PM ET Hands on: An amateur photographer tests out Adobe's latest Lightroom

Oct 10 - 6:52 PM ET Mobile service providers brace for the economic storm

Oct 10 - 6:24 PM ET Apple warns users about bad Nvidia graphics chips

Oct 10 - 4:21 PM ET New Norton Vista tool trades UAC for online feedback