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Aug 14, 2005 | 11:48 pm

#16

tom911

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I signed up for the $1.99 deal to give it a try in Seattle this weekend. I popped into the Barnes and Noble downtown and it worked out fine (and, of course, I had to have a piece of New York cheesecake when I was there). Met up with some FTers left over from the SEA DO for dinner afterwards.

The next two weekends I'm in Washington DC for 24 hours each visit, so I'll give it a try there (Pricelined in DC and in Crystal City) if I can find a B&N, and use McDonalds for the backup if I can't. I might try my local McDonalds in Benicia when I get home (or any of the 4 in Vallejo) just to test it out when I'm back home Monday night.

Thanks

Aug 15, 2005 | 3:23 am

#17

PremEx

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tom911

I might try my local McDonalds in Benicia when I get home (or any of the 4 in Vallejo) just to test it out when I'm back home Monday night.

When you start your browser at McDonalds, you'll be redirected to their entry portal. You'll click a link to select connection method and that will take you to another page where you can select Wayport Customer, Prepaid Card, Promotional Code, Buy One-Time Usage, and Roaming Partner. From the Roaming Partner page select "Freedomlink" (it's usually the default) and it takes you right to the normal baby blue Freedomlink signon page.

I've used it at about 15 different participating McDonalds throughout the country. Only had one place where I encountered difficulty. The Roaming Partner link was dead. I called the McDonalds-Wayport Customer Service number and got a rep immediately and he could see the problem but could not fix it right away, so he just gave me a free one-day code to enter, and I was on in a jiffy with that. Great and fast customer service from Wayport's McDonalds Desk, I thought.

Aug 15, 2005 | 5:24 am

#18

snowdogs

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Do you have to be an SBC internet customer to get the $1.99 rate?

Aug 15, 2005 | 6:51 am

#19

nmenaker

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hhmm

Well, I KNOW that it works at some wayport locations, like SJC, since that is a wayport port and I was able to login with my sbc login no problem.

It was also free for me, that was in july. Technically, it was free for everyone till I think end of may.

Aug 15, 2005 | 10:23 am

#20

tom911

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Quote:

Originally Posted by snowdogs

Do you have to be an SBC internet customer to get the $1.99 rate?

Most certainly. It's an add-on to your home DSL account.

Aug 15, 2005 | 10:26 am

#21

DeafFlyer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tom911

The next two weekends I'm in Washington DC for 24 hours each visit, so I'll give it a try there (Pricelined in DC and in Crystal City) if I can find a B&N, and use McDonalds for the backup if I can't. I might try my local McDonalds in Benicia when I get home (or any of the 4 in Vallejo) just to test it out when I'm back home Monday night.

Thanks

There is a B&N on Route 1, not too far south of Crystal City. There's also a McDonald's on Route 1 within walking distance of Crystal City.

Aug 15, 2005 | 10:34 am

#22

tom911

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I'll be on foot, so it looks like I may end up at McDonalds then. Thanks.

Aug 15, 2005 | 1:22 pm

#23

PremEx

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Quote:

Do you have to be an SBC internet customer to get the $1.99 rate?

Yep. But just to be very clear, the $1.99 deal is if you're an SBC DSL internet customer. If you're only an SBC Dialup internet customer...it's $9.99 per month for the Freedomlink only (no roaming) plan. Scroll down on this page for plans:

http://www.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=5949

You can sign-up for the Freedomlink add-on online, and you immediately get access.

Quote:

Well, I KNOW that it works at some wayport locations, like SJC, since that is a wayport port and I was able to login with my sbc login no problem.

I think you've either been lucky then with perhaps SJC having a buggy portal, or somehow your account got accidentally coded for roaming, or you might double check your bill to see if you are being billed more than the $1.99 per month.

Although Avis Rent-A-Car at SJC has a Freedomlink hotspot.

I've tried Wayport at dozens of hotels and several airports (including IAH which has a Sprint/Wayport roamer) and the logon page just rejects me. So for me so far, I'm only good to go at the actual Freedomlink locations (except McDonalds which as I mentioned is the allowed Wayport exception on the $1.99 no-roaming plan).

But hoping that I might somehow get in at a Wayport roaming location...I figure it never hurts to try, so I keep trying. But I've yet to be allowed to sneak in.

Quote:

“Roaming” services are available through a number of partners. Roaming access is available through agreements between SBC FreedomLink and other Wi-Fi providers to let FreedomLink customers access their network at selected hot spots. The only services where “Roaming” is included are the Premier service products.

Our FreedomLink service is priced to meet a variety of budgets and connection needs.

Subscription Service — Available for SBC Internet access (DSL and Dial-up) members only. Members can choose from one of the following subscriptions:

Basic subscription service provides unlimited access to all FreedomLink Hot Spots — $1.99 per month for DSL members and $9.99 per month for Dial-up members.

Premier subscription service provides unlimited access to all FreedomLink Hot Spots plus all roaming partner locations — $21.99 per month for DSL members and $29.99 per month for Dial-up members.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Memberships — Available to non-SBC Internet access members. Customers can choose from one of the following memberships:

Basic memberships provide unlimited Internet access at all FreedomLink Hot Spots for just $19.95 per month with a one year term commitment.

Premier memberships provide unlimited Internet access at all FreedomLink Hot Spots, plus all roaming partner locations for just $39.95 per month with a one year term commitment.

Last edited by PremEx; Aug 15, 2005 at 1:56 pm

Aug 17, 2005 | 12:54 am

#24

Jamester

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PremEx

- UPS Stores (Freedomlink)
- Mail Boxes Etc (Freedomlink)

The problem with Mail Boxes Etc and UPS Stores (in most cases they are the same) is that there is really nowhere to sit down and power up your laptop. Often times I have to find a parking spot right outside of the store and connect away from my car. I wonder what SBC was thinking when they signed these stores - at the very least perhaps a couple of small booths for people to sit down?

Unless perhaps I haven't seen any UPS Stores that are equipped with such amenities?

Jamester

Aug 17, 2005 | 2:59 am

#25

IceTrojan

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I can't find the answer to this question in searching through the SBC FAQs... hoping someone will have an answer.

I have the $1.99/mo subscription with SBC DSL (no premier). What are the roaming charges if I use one of the "partners?" Can I even roam?

Aug 17, 2005 | 4:39 pm

#26

PremEx

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Quote:

I have the $1.99/mo subscription with SBC DSL (no premier). What are the roaming charges if I use one of the "partners?" Can I even roam?

I don't think you can. In all my attempts, I've never been offered a roaming surcharge. Just told my logon attempt was not valid. Seems to be all or nothing.

Quote:

Unless perhaps I haven't seen any UPS Stores that are equipped with such amenities?

I've been in a couple that have a table and some chairs, but most you have to stand and work at an island-type table that's used for filling out forms and such. UPS is my last choice using Freedomlink.

Last edited by PremEx; Aug 17, 2005 at 4:41 pm

Aug 18, 2005 | 12:58 am

#27

Jamester

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PremEx

That's what I tend to do as well and at the same time feeling guilty since I don't plan on buying anything from them, just wanting to use the wifi - and the fact that a lot of these stores (this is true for Mailboxes Etc) are mom-n-pop operated doesn't help either. Hopefully one day this will change.

Aug 18, 2005 | 3:32 am

#28

IceTrojan

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamester

Perhaps they get a cut of the Freedomlink fee pot?

Aug 18, 2005 | 11:14 am

#29

PremEx

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Quote:

Perhaps they get a cut of the Freedomlink fee pot?

Perhaps. I don't know if they get some sort of payment for each person that comes in and uses the hotspot, but I wouldn't be surprised if they got one or all of the following for agreeing to be a hotspot location and slapping that hotspot sticker in their window:

- Annual Payment
- Usage Payment
- Free Wi-Fi and/or wired hi-speed for themselves
- Exposure to their services and place of business from visiting hotspotters

My guess would be that the individual store only gets the last 2. Though who knows what kind of Alliance contract Freedomlink has with the Corporate offices of the UPS Stores.

Aug 20, 2005 | 6:23 pm

#30

tom911

In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jun 2000

Location: Benicia CA

Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life

Posts: 31,849

I'm at the Barnes and Noble in Arlington, VA, about 2 blocks from the Clarendon Metro station. Nice, comfortable chairs upstairs, and really nice to get out of the hot temps here (was in the 90's here today). Best $1.99 investment I ever made

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