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