Install Vista, get free Wi-Fi

Early adopters of Windows Vista are getting three months of free Wi-Fi access from hot-spot operator The Cloud.

"(Microsoft) chose us because of the extensive network coverage we have in the U.K., which is numerically far greater than some of the other Wi-Fi operators here," a representative of The Cloud told ZDNet UK on Thursday, adding that the operator is "delighted" with the partnership.

Those who have installed the newly released Microsoft operating system in the United States are currently able to take advantage of a similar hot-spot deal with T-Mobile. It is valid through April 30 when users sign up for a complimentary trial account, according to T-Mobile.

Vista users will be able to access The Cloud service by visiting Microsoft's U.K. Vista home page and signing up, according to The Cloud, though that site currently does not have promoted mention of the deal, purported by the official Windows Vista Magazine to begin Friday. The Cloud added that users would not have to give any credit card details to sign up for the three-month promotion.

The Cloud operates 7,500 Wi-Fi sites across the United Kingdom, with indoor hot spots in airports, railway stations and hotels, and outdoor "hotzones" in six city centers. The representative added that the company would offer Wi-Fi access across the financial heart of London as of the end of March.

David Meyer of ZDNet UK reported from London.

[westrajc]

Office/Outlook 2007 Unsupported by T-Mobile

"FREE" WiFi access is great, but not much of a catalyst for early adopters of Vista. Those who go after "FREE" deals will likely not be buying the new HW prebundled with Vista and the tech-savy are both already online and taking a wait-and-see approach to Microsoft's latest OS.

Instead of trying to leverage/mimic the UGLY "FREE" with purchase... model exploited by the cell phone carriers, Microsoft would be better served getting them all to support Outlook 2007's SMS messaging features.

SMS from the desktop has the potential for REAL ROI benefits and would be a valid reason for many to upgrade to Outlook 2007. Unfortunately, although Office 2007 was available to developers for more than a year prior to launch, T-Mobile and other cell providers still don't have support in place for Outlook 2007's SMS features.

[Ian Kirkland]

WOW! (to steal a word

WOW! MS Windose has only been available since Tuesday and M$
already feels they have to sweeten the deal!

Pitiful!

[timber2005]

WOW

Your intelligence of Business is WOW!

I'm sure a massive agreement like that ONLY took two whole days... one to agree on and one to get C|Net to post about it.

Troll on Ian. Continue Damming those who do, and also Dam those who don't.

[dfichtner]

It amazes me MS has to work so hard...

I amazes me that MS has to work so hard to get people to buy Vista. It must really be a flop thusfar??