What the Networks Charge

The charges and payment structure in this section are based upon information published by each network or on conversations I have had with Wi-Fi network company representatives. As I've noted before, they are certainly subject to change, so you should verify current pricing for yourself. I've tried to include some tips and ideas for getting the most out of each Wi-Fi network.

AT&T Wireless

AT&T Wireless (goport) offers a number of different Wi-Fi service plans as shown in Table 12.2.

AT&T wireless has no roaming arrangements with any other Wi-Fi providers, meaning that if you buy an AT&T connection package (or monthly unlimited plan), you cannot use it on any other Wi-Fi network.

Boingo Wireless

Boingo Wireless has two kinds of payment plans available as shown in Table 12.3.

Boingo Wireless has extensive roaming arrangements with Wayport, Surf and Sip, and many smaller networks. If you download Boingo's special software, you can use roaming networks seamlessly (you won't even know you are roaming).

tip

In some cases, you can save money by using Boingo for access and then roaming on a foreign (and nominally more costly) Wi-Fi network.

Otherwise, if you connect normally by scanning for an SSID (as explained in Part II, "Setting Up Your Computer for Wi-Fi"), you can enter your Boingo user ID and password to log on to the "foreign" network.

The ability to roam on other networks effectively greatly extends Boingo's Wi-Fi network.

Sprint PCS

Sprint PCS offers Wi-Fi access on a daily basis or as part of its business data plans as shown in Table 12.4. The Sprint business data plans shown in Table 12.4 are primarily intended for business customers. Costs are based on the amount of data transferred between your mobile computer and the Wi-Fi network.

Note that if you sign up for a business data plan and go over the data transfer allotment, you will be charged for any overages.

Sprint PCS has no Wi-Fi roaming arrangements available.

SurfHere

Toshiba of America's SurfHere is primarily intended as infrastructure support for businesses that want to establish a hotspot. This means that businesses that host a SurfHere hotspot are free to mark up access prices if they want.

Access to the SurfHere network can be established in the normal fashion by using a credit card to create an account online. You can also purchase access from the vendor hosting the Wi-Fi access. The vendor will sell you a "coupon"; entering the information supplied on the coupon gets you on the SurfHere network.

Table 12.5 shows SurfHere pricing plans.

SurfHere has no roaming arrangements with other networks, so if you buy SurfHere access you cannot expect to use the access time on any hotspots except SurfHere's.

T-Mobile Hotspot

T-Mobile Hotspot is the leading provider of Wi-Fi hotspot services, and perhaps the old-line telecommunications company that is making the most effort to become a true national Wi-Fi network. (T-Mobile is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom.)

This effort is spearheaded, of course, by the presence of T-Mobile Wi-Fi access points in Starbucks shops.

Table 12.6 shows the T-Mobile Hotspot pricing plans.

T-Mobile offers no roaming facilities on other networks.

Verizon

Verizon's Wi-Fi offerings are primarily intended as a courtesy offering to existing Verizon subscribers, and the pricing reflects this fact.

Existing DSL or dial-up Internet access customers of Verizon can access Verizon's Wi-Fi hotspots at no charge. Note that Verizon states that it intends to alter this policy at some point so that dial-up subscribers are no longer allowed free Wi-Fi access.

If you have a Verizon wireless cell phone account, you can add Wi-Fi access to your account for $6.99 per day or $34.99 per month.

Wayport

Wayport offers the pricing plans shown in Table 12.7.

Wayport does not offer roaming on other networks to its customers.