AT&T mistakenly announces free Wi-Fi for iPhone users...again

AT&T iPhone users will not be getting free Wi-Fi access after all.

For the second time in less than six months, AT&T mistakenly published a notice on its Web site indicating that Apple iPhone users would get free access to the wireless operator's more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots around the country.

News of free access to AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots was reported on several blogs Friday morning after it was discovered that a notice had been posted on AT&T's Web site. The notice, which was still live at 8:30 a.m. PDT but then was removed by 9:30 a.m., said:

"AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and free Wi-Fi even hotter, which is why we are proud to offer iPhone customers free access to the nation's largest Wi-Fi hot-spot network with more than 17,000 hot spots, including Starbucks. Now users can relax and access music, e-mail, and Web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their favorite location."

But Wes Warnock, an AT&T spokesman, told CNET News that the notice was published in error.

"We have not made any announcement regarding free Wi-Fi and iPhone," he said in an e-mail. "The Web page was posted in error and is being removed."

The same thing happened in May when AT&T first launched free Wi-Fi access to its Laptop Connect customers, who subscribe to the company's 3G data service for laptops. Then, like now, a notice had been published briefly on AT&T's Web site indicating free Wi-Fi access for iPhone users. It was promptly removed. And at the time, a company representative told The New York Times that the notice had been published in error.

I asked Warnock why AT&T had inadvertently published this information not once, but twice, and he had no comment. An AT&T spokesman had told me when the Laptop Connect program launched that smartphones, including the iPhone, would be added to the list of free of Wi-Fi access later in the year. But when I asked Warnock to verify this information, he again declined to comment.

It's frustrating enough as it is sifting through the barrage of iPhone rumors and misinformation on the Web. But to have misinformation disseminated by AT&T's official Web site is even more disconcerting. I'd love to hear what readers have to say on this matter. I can't imagine it's winning AT&T any points among customers or potential customers in terms of customer service.

[Mystigo]

I did a double-take when I read about this a few minutes ago. I couldn't believe that AT&T would actually do something nice for its paying customers. Seriously -I simply could not believe it -one of the worst companies in the world say thank you to its customers? No way whatsoever. Glad to see the world hasn't changed.

Back to spying on us AT&T. And f you for good measure.

[Wolfie2k5]

I dunno... They HAVE given their clients with the top 2 tiers of their DSL service FREE Wi-Fi at Starbucks.

Then again, they DO have to offer something of value to keep subscribers from jumping ship. Competetive DSL services in my area are at least $5 - $10 bucks cheaper than AT&T...

[Vegaman_Dan]

How do you accidentally publish a press release that well polished and promoting a new service and then yank it back? Obviously they had plans to do this, but not necessarily right now. Could be two different departments not knowing what the other is doing. That's my suspicion.

[zen&stimpy]

What a great way to get a pop in iPhone sales - offer a free service to lure one in and then yank it even before the phone is delivered. I wonder how many people signed a 2 year agreement based on the offer - only to have their free Wi-Fi yanked...twice. The whole thing doesn't pass the smell test to me.

[meystel]

I don't see what the big deal is. If you have an iPhone, you're paying extra for the data plan anyway. Why not offer WiFi at hotspots for free? What's the big deal??? You're paying for the data plan anyway, so AT&T is getting your money. So, you're using a WiFi hotspot instead of the 3G or Edge network. So WHAT?

[meystel]

And what difference does it make, when none of my 12 local AT&T stores have had any iPhones delivered to them since last Saturday? That's nearly a week now. I have called and/or stopped by nearly every day. They said that direct fulfillment (that is, people who are to receive iPhones directly by mail) was to happen first. I did not understand how it could be possible that Apple would "short" its retail sales channel so blatantly.

I am tired of playing cat and mouse. Marketing is one thing, but this is a little too much playing hard to get, for a device whose battery life is apparently really bad. At this point I think I'll wait another year.

[TheKirill]

It's worth the wait meystel. Direct fulfillment is all those people who waited in line behind me as I got one of the last 5 iPhones at the AT&T store. They signed up for contracts without receiving any phone but just a promise that they'll receive it as soon as the AT&T store does.

Besides that, I have no complaints about the battery life whatsoever. This thing has a big beautiful screen and I'm surprised when I come home to usually about 1/2 battery at night. Those who are complaining are the ones that sit there and play around with the phone all day, installing apps whatnot. (Although it is fun, installing and downloading apps through the air drains battery.)

[Vegaman_Dan]

Apple didn't produce enough phones for the demand. There were plenty of articles out there about supply problems from the manufacturer before the launch. This is just the back end part of that supply issue.

Plus Apple knows they can do pretty much whatever they want to you and know you'll just bend over and take it then ask for more.

[caspiansails]

Get the Instinct, now or the new HTC Diamond in the fall from Sprint. Better battery life. Let the flames begin!

[wratbatblue]

Of course there's an explanation for the snafu. But there is no GOOD explanation. Not since...well, DELL...have I seen a company of this size and presence do such a lousy job of communicating with its customers. Wait...Apple...how could I possibly have forgotten Apple, The absolute king of "there's no excuse for this" ?

[theonlybuster]

yeah... Mistake sure. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
And of course the mistake isn't caught until AFTER the IPhone has been sold out of almost every Apple and AT&T store. Yepp, some "mistake" *wink*

[jCounsel]

AT&T...not MaBell. Being a former BellSouth customer, I am not an AT&T DSL customer--wait, an AT&T SE customer which, I am told, is different than an AT&T customer.

How so?

My EXTREME DSL (3.0 Mbps down and 512kps up) is $37.95 per month. AT&T has a site offering 3.0 down and 768 up for $30.00 per month. I don't qualify since I am a former BellSouth Customer as their systems are "not fully integrated."

As if a $7.95 per month credit wouldn't make me whole :).

And the reasoning one operator gave me was: You buy gas where you live, and you pay different prices at different stations. You even pay different prices on different days.

I couldn't help but laugh. ah... Can I vote for MaBell to come back?

[dragonwithaheadache]

Ma Bell and AT&T are one in the same. AT&T is the name that was choosen during the anti trust split. AT&T is in the process of pulling itself back together minus the smaller markets it wanted to get rid of in the first place.

[supoman]

AT&T does it to ya again!!!!

[livecrunch]

That is sweet tho, because most of the people that are now paying for higher prices on data plan and text messages can enjoy some free wifi, hope there are not going to be some restrictions like "Buy 2 cups of coffee for 2h"

Livecrunch.

[jCounsel]

meystel

The issue that comes to mind is:

Traffic/bandwidth on each section of network (from each wi-fi point) may cost AT&T money it doesn't have to spend if you use the edge or 3g network.

Getting all of those companies (Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, etc.) who "control" access to those wi-fi sites would be difficult for AT&T to control and MAY be leading to delays in an official announcement.

Once can hope...

[vitalstatics]

i think ATNT servers are probably getting hacked.. they just don't want to let us know about it because then they would start losing customers..

[Kwasiowusu]

AT&T's incompetence continues to grow. For my money, AT&T is about the worst service company I ever dealt with. They simplky have no idae what they are about. Thank heavens I dumped AT&T and moved on to the far better Verizon. Sadly, iPhione users are stuck with the worst phone compoany in america, bar none.

[umbrae]

They are just trying to push sales. Does not matter if it is true because a good group of people would have already signed a contract for an iPhone before it got "corrected".

[Kwasiowusu]

There are laws against such sharp practices..and plenty of greedy lawyers who are eager and willing to have a word with AT&T about this kind of swindle.

[Kopter58]

use a Blackberry. To H*LL with the iphone.

[caspiansails]

Maybe an old fashioned bait and switch. Post it to get the buzz out there. Get more subscribers then say - oooopsss sorry!

[Vegaman_Dan]

Pssssst! It's Microsoft's fault. Just admit it.

[alchemistmuffin]

at&t probably launched the service, then something went wrong, and turned off again to deny problems.

[Xtoo]

Wes Warnock you and your company are a complete jack ass. It was really stupid the first time? And then twice???? The day Apple decides to take his iPhone to another company, I'll switch.

[harpnet]

AT&T has been consistently dishonest and deceptive with their customers for as long as I can remember. They are no different now. They are just being consistent. I quit doing business with them long ago, but now don't have any choice because Steve Jobs made an exclusive deal with them. I am sorry that Apple stooped down to their level to get into the phone business.