Where is commercial/outdoor WiFi hotspot?

[patpatbut]

Hi, guyz

I am new for wifi so I don't know where I can do wifi outside? I know starbucks, airport...but I am not sure would they show the symbol of 'wifi' outside or something...
I live in Manchester so any guyz live in there as well would tell me where I can do wifi outside?

BTW do they charge me for this service?

Thanks

[netBook4ever]

I can't help you on locality, because I am not in the UK but where I live, there are just signs that say <ISP name Wireless Broadband available>, on a sticker on the door. I had to pay for 'sessions' every 10 minutes counted as a session, and they would add £0.24 to my monthly bill, which is quite cheap, considering if you do not have a broadband subscription it costs 10x that.

Hope this helps,
netbook4ever

[swing]

Originally posted by patpatbut
I live in Manchester so any guyz live in there as well would tell me where I can do wifi outside?

BTW do they charge me for this service?

If you head to www.bt.com/openzone you can get details of a large number of available WiFi access points and details on the different charging methods available. They mainly use ADSL to provide the internet connection.

Steve

[diem]

There is no requirement for anyone to display a sticker showing where a WiFi hotspot is - there is no standard for this.

I suggest walking into your local Starbucks and just asking?

As far as charging is concerned, that's up to the provider; Starbuck's is free at the moment, but they plan to charge when they've found out how popular it is.

[fladda]

Originally posted by swing


If you head to www.bt.com/openzone you can get details of a large number of available WiFi access points and details on the different charging methods available. They mainly use ADSL to provide the internet connection.

Steve

BT Openzone is just one company offering WiFi access. Expensive too.

Internet Exchange are much cheaper at 5 GBP for 24hours.

Here is the URL for your local Madchester store, near Piccalilly station. Not tried this so YMMV.

http://www.internet-exchange.co.uk/home.asp?section=store_locations&store=26

Ralph

[fladda]

Originally posted by diem
There is no requirement for anyone to display a sticker showing where a WiFi hotspot is - there is no standard for this.

I suggest walking into your local Starbucks and just asking?

As far as charging is concerned, that's up to the provider; Starbuck's is free at the moment, but they plan to charge when they've found out how popular it is.

According to info on the 'net, the free Starbucks scheme in London and Brum is now ended.

Can anyone confirm whether Starbucks are now charging an arm and a leg for WiFi, in addition to their coffee ?

I can not understand why companies charge more for WiFi access than renting one of their computers for an hour ??? Cost to these companies for WiFi access is negligible as far as I can see.

Ralph

[diem]

Originally posted by fladda
According to info on the 'net, the free Starbucks scheme in London and Brum is now ended.

Can anyone confirm whether Starbucks are now charging an arm and a leg for WiFi, in addition to their coffee ?
I'll check it out next time I go into town at lunch.

[fladda]

I walked past a Starbucks near Liverpool Street station that had a T-Mobile (WiFi?) sticker in the window. So I went in and enquired...

None of the staff seemed to know much about the T-Mobile WiFi service. However one staff member managed to find a T-Mobile WiFi leaflet. Said flyer was full of marketing speak but there was no mention of charges or of the WiFi service still being free. So I assume that the charges were so expensive they didn't dare tell anyone;-)

Ralph