boingo

Microsoft, pushing Windows 8, makes Wi-Fi free in NYC and SF

Microsoft is sponsoring some free Wi-Fi sites in New York and San Francisco to drum up interest in Windows 8.

Six different Manhattan subway stops will feature free Wi-Fi starting immediately, and another 200-plus hotzones across the city will light up November 1. The subway locations are supported by Transit Wireless, which provides Wi-Fi service for travelers riding the rails underground.

Residents of San Francisco can surf at Microsoft's expense at hotzones in such locations as Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, UN Plaza, the Financial District, and Nob Hill. The hotzones in New York City and San Francisco all … Read more

Smaller wireless carriers extend networks via Boingo Wi-Fi

LAS VEGAS -- Wi-Fi network provider Boingo Wireless has struck a deal with the Competitive Carrier Association to help smaller wireless providers leverage Wi-Fi to offload traffic and extend the reach of their networks.

On Tuesday at the CCA's annual conference, Boingo CEO Dave Hagan announced the new partnership and explained the opportunity that Wi-Fi offers all carriers, both large and small. With mobile data usage growing at an exponential rate, carriers are feeling capacity constraints on their networks. And Hagan said that carriers can use Wi-Fi to help alleviate these strains on their networks.

"Large carriers like … Read more

Google and Boingo to furnish malls with free Wi-Fi

From urban to suburban, Google and Boingo continue to work on their nationwide free Wi-Fi project. The two companies announced today that free hotspots are coming to eight malls in the U.S, according to GigaOm.

It's not yet clear which malls will get the service, but Google and Boingo did say that at least four will be in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tampa, and Seattle.

This news comes on the heels of the Google and Boingo partnering to bring free Wi-Fi to several of New York City's subway stations as well as to 200 other above-ground hotspots … Read more

Free Wi-Fi comes to New York City via Google Offers, Boingo

New Yorkers can now spend their time on the subway checking e-mail and surfing the Web on a free wireless network. Starting today, Google Offers is sponsoring free Wi-Fi via Boingo Wireless in six MTA subway stations and more than 200 hotspot locations across New York City.

"We're glad our riders will be able to access free Wi-Fi this summer in six subway stations to stay connected while they're underground," MTA director of strategic initiatives Jerome Page said in a statement. "Reliable Wi-Fi is an important benefit for straphangers in New York City subway stations.&… Read more

Nintendo 3DS gets free airport Wi-Fi

Fasten your seatbelts, proprietors of the Nintendo 3DS.

Boingo Wireless, a provider for Wi-Fi at 42 airports in North America, is now providing free hot-spot Internet access for the 3DS gaming console.

Traditionally, getting on a Wi-Fi connection at an airport through your laptop or tablet is depressing. Many of you have had that experience of wasting dozens of dollars on a mediocre Internet connection only used for a few hours at best.

I always groan when I have to pull out the credit card and type in my financial details into the antiquated wireless authorization system, especially after spending … Read more

Boingo apologizes for subscription-change e-mails

Boingo Wireless executives are a bit red-faced this weekend after mistakenly informing the company's customers of a radical billing plan change being instituted apparently without their input or consent.

The Wi-Fi hot spot provider sent an e-mail to its customers Saturday informing them that the company was immediately canceling their flat-fee monthly subscription plans and replacing it with a "Day Pass" plan that bills for a 24-hour period each time a customer logs in to the network.

Here's a snippet of the e-mail a Boingo subscriber provided to CNET:

The U.S.-based subscriber who provided … Read more