Verizon Broadband Better Than Ever With Free Wi-Fi

Millions of High Speed Internet and FiOS Users Now Provided Access to Thousands of On-The-Go, Wi-Fi Hotspots Across the U.S.

NEW YORK – Verizon continues to enhance its broadband service capabilities for consumers to offer competitive advantages over rival communication providers.

Since the beginning of the year, Verizon has introduced faster downstream and unprecedented upstream speeds for its all-fiber-optic FiOS Internet service; expanded the reach of its digital subscriber line-based Verizon High Speed Internet (HSI) service; and started offering mini netbook computers to customers as part of select bundle promotions.

And starting today, the company will expand Internet connection capabilities for millions of Verizon broadband customers by providing them free access to thousands of Wi-Fi connections across the U.S., reflecting the company's sharp focus on developing and deploying broadband and entertainment services.
"Wherever they go – across town or across the country — Internet users today want the freedom and flexibility of staying connected online whenever they want," said Mike Ritter, Chief Marketing Officer for Verizon Telecom. "In addition to providing in-home broadband networks and the nation's most reliable 3G wireless network, we're now offering even more connections with fast, free Wi-Fi that customers can use in their local communities and when traveling across the country."

New Verizon FiOS Internet customers who order an up-to- 25/15 Mbps* (megabits per second) or faster connection or new HSI customers who order an up-to- 3 Mbps/768 Kbps* (kilobits per second) or up-to- 7.1 Mbps/768 Kbps* connection can connect to the new Verizon Wi-Fi hotspots, at no additional charge as part of their broadband service.

The new WiFi service is also available free of charge for existing FiOS Internet customers with up-to-20 Mbps or faster packages and existing HSI customers who have either an up-to-3 Mbps or up-to- 7.1 Mbps package.

Free Verizon Wi-Fi hotspot locations include hotels, airports, restaurants, coffee shops, retailers, convention centers and public locations across the U.S. For a list of hotspot locations, visit www.verizon.net/hotspots.

"Our new free Wi-Fi connections are an ideal complement to our current netbook promotion that really enhances the value and functionality of the netbook," said Ritter. "We're making it more enticing for customers to want to use Verizon broadband services by giving them the mobility tools they need to stay connected more often and in more places."

Boingo is the world's largest WiFi hotspot provider with over 100,000, and even though I'd never heard of them, it turns out they've got hotspots all over the place: Starbucks, McDonald's, Barnes and Noble, and various hotels all use Boingo. The sources were specific that this offer would be extended to FiOS and DSL customers only, which notably excludes Verizon Wireless customers. Not that we're surprised, given Verizon's infuriating tendency to strip WiFi capability from its already unexciting line of phones, but we were really hoping Verizon would step up and finally give its customers what they want.

The details are still fuzzy, like whether it'll be regional or global access (and it had better be the latter), but it seems like a pretty fair bet that Verizon home customers will be seeing some free WiFi hotspot action in the near future. [WSJ via Boy Genius Report]

Well, it was a nice idea, but apparently no one used it. The service will be disconnected as of May 8th, with customers who have paid beyond that being issued refunds or credits. Our question is this: Are there any pieces of software out there that will automatically switch you from an EVDO connection to a Wi-Fi hotspot when you come across one? It's a neat idea, one that you shouldn't need to sign up for a service to be able to use. –Adam Frucci

PhoneScoop [via CrunchGear]

Wi-Fi in the Sky [WSJ via the Consumerist]

If you own the Belkin phone, however, you can get unlimited access for $7.95 a month. Not bad if you frequently take your WiFi phone out with you to hotspots already. – Jason Chen

Press Release [Belkin]

Unlimited Skyping @ home for FREE! [NickStarr]