ATT Internet card for laptops and Airport card

[MamaMoose]

I am really confused!! I use ATT as my cell phone provider and as part of it I also have Internet access. However, my ISP is Verizon FIOS. Now ATT is pushing their Internet card for my MacBook Pro that they claim gives me Internet access anywhere! Of course, they require that you purchase access to their network!!


I think this is a rip off as I have an Airport card in by laptop and that allows WiFi access whenever I can get a non-password protected signal. It also allows access if I somehow have a password. Isn't the Airport card the same thing as the ATT card? Am I correct in my conclusion?

Thanks,

MamaMoose

[sandbox]

Hey MaMa, and...........no ......the at&t's card is only good for their HotSpots. This is a new, to them method allocating wifi in member certain locations like Barnes & Noble or now Starbucks. You can buy a premium package and pay for wifi from other wifi vendors. at&t is trying to eliminate free wifi in places where people gather.

If you buy their HotSpot BS deal

"What types of wireless cards are compatible with the AT&T Wi-Fi network?

Any card that has been certified for compliance with the Wi-Fi wireless LAN standard (IEE 802.11b/g) can be used with the AT&T wireless service. For a list of qualified vendors, please visit the Wi-Fi Alliance Association Website."
http://secure.sbc.com/support/faq.adp

This is a system (again) that they didn't invent they stoled from T-Mobile. at&t is the Black Plague of the internet/phone industry.

If you do not go to B&N or Starbucks you won't need it at this point. Most airline carriers have free wifi in their lobby, most Hotels have free wifi, ......you can drive down the street and pick up wifi in most areas for nothing. I open up a second router at my office so that there is wifi in the area, my neighbor does the same.

OH if you buy this BService you have to agree to receive 4 emails a year from at&t, watch out they could be loaded.

[Xairbusdriver]

Sounds like you have duplicated some Internet services. If your AT&T cell phone can connect to the interweb, I doubt it will be using your Verizon account. You probably have Verizon at home? In effect, you actually have two ISPs. Probably with features in one that are duplicated in the other. My wife has found AT&T very willing to 'deal' with and offer to tailor their services to whatever you want, just to keep you signed up (with home service, anyway). You may be able to pit one company against the other and less duplication and better, cheaper service too.

[MamaMoose]

Thanks sandbox and Xabd,


My Verizon account is strictly DSL/Fiberoptic but has no WiFi component.  I have access to ATT's wireless net work since I signed up when I activated my Palm Treo. I think what I am going to do is check with ATT to ensure I can access their  wireless network from my laptop (Airport).

I am cynical enough that I bet they say no and that I have to buy the service for my laptop, separately. I expect greed rules!

MamaMoose

[sandbox]

If you connected your FiOS modem to a router via ethernet cable you could have WiFi at home.
This shouldn't require any service from Verizon, just a router.

Your MacPro has wifi b/g/n? which gives you access to any open router on the planet. If you need special access to at&t's routers or with their premium plan, (any wifi vendor that they sign up) then the cost could be justified.

In my resent travels using only my iBook, I have had access to wifi in every airport, hotels, most restaurants, and on most public streets and parks in downtown areas. As a matter of fact it was hard to find a place in Cambridge, Manhattan or Ashville, just to name a few, that didn't have a least a dozen access points.

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/free-public-wifi/
http://www.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm

a friend uses this service to locate free wifi, it's far more access than any single provider offers.
http://www.boingo.com/sales/intro_offer_02...mo=UNL01093USD0

If you use these sevices for 1 month and learn where the wifi is most likely located, you can pretty much find it on your own.