From: "Carl Gehr" <os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com>
To: "OS/2 Wireless Users Mailing List" <os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com>
Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2006 23:35:37 -0400 (EDT)
Reply-To: "Carl Gehr" <Carl.Gehr@attglobal.net>
Priority: Normal
In-Reply-To: <list-336586@2rosenthals.com>
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Subject: Re: [OS2Wireless]Hotspots: Play-for-Fee vs Play-for-Free
Message-Id: <20060907033541.MCTH5373.gx5.fuse.net@localhost>

Here in Cincinnati, if you subscribe to the Cincinnati Bell DSL service
[Zoomtown] or even their dial-up service, you automatically get "free
access to over 300 WiFi HotSpots around Greater Cincinnati."  And, if
you are not a subscriber you can get, "1 Hour (60 consecutive minutes
of web surfing) for $4.95" or "24 Hours (24 consecutive hours of web
surfing) for $9.95" is not quite as bad as T-Mobile on an hourly basis.

Personally, although I use Zoomtown, I almost never take my TPad out
where I need access.  So, I've never tried it.  But, it is nice to know
it's available if I need it.

I travel just enough to make it tempting to use T-Mobile in the Delta
Crown Room or in other airports where it is available.  But, I've never
been that desperate to get on line that I've stepped up to what I
consider a costly service.

I did get a little bit of a surprise during a recent trip to Zurich,
Switzerland.  The hotel had T-Mobile service, but not at rates similar
to the U.S.
        [all prices in Swiss Francs (CHF) = approx US$0.81]:
	 6.00 for 30 consecutive minutes
	12.00 for 3 consecutive hours
	30.00 for 24 consecutive hours
These were the same rates as at a Starbucks near the hotel.

Makes U.S. prices seem like a bargain!  What made the cost even more
out of line was the hotel [name omitted to protect the guilty] was
about the level of a U.S. Motel-6, but they charged CHF200+/night for a
room with a SINGLE bed that took up most of the available floor space. 
I guess, in the context of the room cost, the WiFi was not that much
out of line.  [But, now I'm off topic again... Sorry.]

I did try the CHF6.00 just to see if I could connect.  No such luck.  I
could not even connect to enter the code to start my 30 minute period. 
I will give the hotel credit for refunding my money for the T-Mobile
card, since the seal was not broken on the card.

So, that's my take on these hotspots.

Carl

On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 11:18:28 -0400, Lewis G Rosenthal wrote:

>Just some quick marketing info, if I may. The link below describes 
>T-Mobile's current Wi-Fi access plans, whichwould be applicable to 
>Starbuck's and the like. I'm curious to know if any of you are currently 
>frequenting play-for-fee venues instead of free ones, and if so, why? 
>Finally, how do the rates you pay compare to T-Mo?
>
>Finally, are any of you using Wi-Fi access in large public spaces 
>(shopping centers, marinas, parks, etc.)? If so, how is the service?
>
>All of the above pertain not only to the US, but I'm interested in the 
>market in the UK (especially), as well as continental Europe and Australia.
>
>Thanks for the feedback!
>
>https://selfcare.hotspot.t-mobile.com/services_plans.do
>
>-- 
>Lewis