Do HotSpots cost money to use?

I always see "T-Mobile HotSpot" signs at starbucks shops. So what did I do?
I bought a wifi card for my laptop. I went to Starbucks to test it out and
what do you know, the access home page (T-Mobile) directed me to a "create
an account" page. I didn't know that hotspots cost money!? Is this true?
I thought they were free to access. What gives?

What gives? It is called capitalism.

"Spartacus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:UYqdnVev14T8ui_eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I always see "T-Mobile HotSpot" signs at starbucks shops. So what did I
>do? I bought a wifi card for my laptop. I went to Starbucks to test it out
>and what do you know, the access home page (T-Mobile) directed me to a
>"create an account" page. I didn't know that hotspots cost money!? Is
>this true? I thought they were free to access. What gives?
>

There are many free hotspots, and many that need an account / pay as you go.
Many businesses over free wifi for their customers (hotels, coffee shops,
etc) ... Starbucks does not. T-Mobile used to give you the first 24 hours
for free when you set up a new pay as you go account.

Try doing some Google searches for free wifi hotspots in your area.

Remember - someone has to carry to costs of internet, hardware, admin, etc
etc etc .... so finding free access that is convenient and practical or you
may not be that easy.

Depending on your T-Mobile cell phone plan - T-Mobile customers can also get
free wifi access ....

"Spartacus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:UYqdnVev14T8ui_eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I always see "T-Mobile HotSpot" signs at starbucks shops. So what did I
>do? I bought a wifi card for my laptop. I went to Starbucks to test it out
>and what do you know, the access home page (T-Mobile) directed me to a
>"create an account" page. I didn't know that hotspots cost money!? Is
>this true? I thought they were free to access. What gives?
>

riggor99999 wrote:

> Try doing some Google searches for free wifi hotspots in your area.
>
Just to please John
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for...wireless/Wi-Fi

Look under "WiFi Hotspots"

Frank

Spartacus wrote:
> I didn't know that hotspots cost money!? Is this true?
> I thought they were free to access. What gives?

Kind of reminds me of a Will Rogers quote, something like: "The problem
with this country is that too many kids don't believe in Santa Claus,
and too many grownups do."

But seriously, though, there really is a Santa Claus...oops, I mean
there really are plenty of free Wi-Fi hotspots around. Take a look at
www.wififreespot.com to see if they list anything close to you. You
also might check out the hotspot finder at www.jiwire.com, although
their free hotspot listings aren't as extensive yet. In addition, you
should look at the website of your local public library system, or call
them up and ask if they offer wireless access at any of their branches.
More and more of them do. And are there any Panera Bread restaurants
near you? Most of them are free hotspots now.

It's a safe bet that if you live where there's enough demand for
wireless Internet access for T-Mobile to sell it, someone else is giving
it away for free. It's only a matter of finding out who. Good luck.

riggor99999 wrote:
> There are many free hotspots, and many that need an account / pay as you go.
> Many businesses over free wifi for their customers (hotels, coffee shops,
> etc) ... Starbucks does not. T-Mobile used to give you the first 24 hours
> for free when you set up a new pay as you go account.
>
> Try doing some Google searches for free wifi hotspots in your area.
>
> Remember - someone has to carry to costs of internet, hardware, admin, etc
> etc etc .... so finding free access that is convenient and practical or you
> may not be that easy.
>
> Depending on your T-Mobile cell phone plan - T-Mobile customers can also get
> free wifi access ....
>
> "Spartacus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:UYqdnVev14T8ui_eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>I always see "T-Mobile HotSpot" signs at starbucks shops. So what did I
>>do? I bought a wifi card for my laptop. I went to Starbucks to test it out
>>and what do you know, the access home page (T-Mobile) directed me to a
>>"create an account" page. I didn't know that hotspots cost money!? Is
>>this true? I thought they were free to access. What gives?
>>

NOTHING is ever FREE, someone somewhere is paying for it!

In article <dsmdnRcIMZfS7S_eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)>, "riggor99999" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>There are many free hotspots, and many that need an account / pay as you go.
>Many businesses over free wifi for their customers (hotels, coffee shops,
>etc) ... Starbucks does not. T-Mobile used to give you the first 24 hours
>for free when you set up a new pay as you go account.
>
>Try doing some Google searches for free wifi hotspots in your area.
>
>Remember - someone has to carry to costs of internet, hardware, admin, etc
>etc etc .... so finding free access that is convenient and practical or you
>may not be that easy.
>
>Depending on your T-Mobile cell phone plan - T-Mobile customers can also get
>free wifi access ....
>

One other thing, stop trading with Starbucks. Tell the store(s) in question
you will take your coffee business where they allow you to check your email
for free. They are free to charge for Internet access and you are free to
spend your money somewhere else. Use your power as a consumer to support
those businesses that do provide free internet access.

>"Spartacus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:UYqdnVev14T8ui_eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I always see "T-Mobile HotSpot" signs at starbucks shops. So what did I
>>do? I bought a wifi card for my laptop. I went to Starbucks to test it out
>>and what do you know, the access home page (T-Mobile) directed me to a
>>"create an account" page. I didn't know that hotspots cost money!? Is
>>this true? I thought they were free to access. What gives?
>>
>
>

fundamentalism, fundamentally wrong.

In article <yaedndxwvYqEXS_eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)>, youcantoo <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>riggor99999 wrote:
>> There are many free hotspots, and many that need an account / pay as you go.
>> Many businesses over free wifi for their customers (hotels, coffee shops,
>> etc) ... Starbucks does not. T-Mobile used to give you the first 24 hours
>> for free when you set up a new pay as you go account.
>>
>> Try doing some Google searches for free wifi hotspots in your area.
>>
>> Remember - someone has to carry to costs of internet, hardware, admin, etc
>> etc etc .... so finding free access that is convenient and practical or you
>> may not be that easy.
>>
>> Depending on your T-Mobile cell phone plan - T-Mobile customers can also get
>> free wifi access ....
>>
>> "Spartacus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:UYqdnVev14T8ui_eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>I always see "T-Mobile HotSpot" signs at starbucks shops. So what did I
>>>do? I bought a wifi card for my laptop. I went to Starbucks to test it out
>>>and what do you know, the access home page (T-Mobile) directed me to a
>>>"create an account" page. I didn't know that hotspots cost money!? Is
>>>this true? I thought they were free to access. What gives?
>>>
>
>NOTHING is ever FREE, someone somewhere is paying for it!

True, but internet access is realiviely cheap and in exchange for a way
over priced cup of coffee, they could throw free internet access into the
deal. That they don't and others do, says the consumer should vote with his
dollars, buy your over priced coffee from someone who does toss free
internet access into the deal. Bet a local coffee shop nearby does, so say
goodbye to starbucks and support a local business instead.

fundamentalism, fundamentally wrong.

Jonathan,
Excellent explanation. I'd also that some cities are starting to set up
free hotspots in certain areas. You should not forget to always read the
local papers for this type of information which you might not find in the
internet.
"Jonathan L. Parker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:utwsf.6361$(E-Mail Removed). ..
> Spartacus wrote:
>> I didn't know that hotspots cost money!? Is this true? I thought they
>> were free to access. What gives?
>
> Kind of reminds me of a Will Rogers quote, something like: "The problem
> with this country is that too many kids don't believe in Santa Claus, and
> too many grownups do."
>
> But seriously, though, there really is a Santa Claus...oops, I mean there
> really are plenty of free Wi-Fi hotspots around. Take a look at
> www.wififreespot.com to see if they list anything close to you. You also
> might check out the hotspot finder at www.jiwire.com, although their free
> hotspot listings aren't as extensive yet. In addition, you should look at
> the website of your local public library system, or call them up and ask
> if they offer wireless access at any of their branches. More and more of
> them do. And are there any Panera Bread restaurants near you? Most of
> them are free hotspots now.
>
> It's a safe bet that if you live where there's enough demand for wireless
> Internet access for T-Mobile to sell it, someone else is giving it away
> for free. It's only a matter of finding out who. Good luck.

In MN, there are quite a few coffee shops that have free WI-FI, particularly
the independant ones. Try Dunn Brothers or Cafe Amoire on Grand Ave.

Mike Schumann

"youcantoo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:yaedndxwvYqEXS_eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> riggor99999 wrote:
>> There are many free hotspots, and many that need an account / pay as you
>> go. Many businesses over free wifi for their customers (hotels, coffee
>> shops, etc) ... Starbucks does not. T-Mobile used to give you the first
>> 24 hours for free when you set up a new pay as you go account.
>>
>> Try doing some Google searches for free wifi hotspots in your area.
>>
>> Remember - someone has to carry to costs of internet, hardware, admin,
>> etc etc etc .... so finding free access that is convenient and practical
>> or you may not be that easy.
>>
>> Depending on your T-Mobile cell phone plan - T-Mobile customers can also
>> get free wifi access ....
>>
>> "Spartacus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:UYqdnVev14T8ui_eRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>I always see "T-Mobile HotSpot" signs at starbucks shops. So what did I
>>>do? I bought a wifi card for my laptop. I went to Starbucks to test it
>>>out and what do you know, the access home page (T-Mobile) directed me to
>>>a "create an account" page. I didn't know that hotspots cost money!? Is
>>>this true? I thought they were free to access. What gives?
>>>
>
> NOTHING is ever FREE, someone somewhere is paying for it!