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Starbucks Offers Two Hours of Free AT&T Wi-Fi Per Day

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 3, 2008 - 11:34am.

Seattle - Starbucks (NASD: SBUX) has begun offering customers two hours of free Wi-Fi access per day through its new Internet partner, AT&T (NYSE: T), USA Today reports.

tags: Marketing | AT&T | Wi-Fi | Retail | Starbucks |

FCC to Vote on Plan for Free Nationwide Wireless Internet

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 30, 2008 - 9:26am.

Washington - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could require the winner of a planned wireless spectrum auction to offer free wireless Internet service across a large portion of the country, the Associated Press reported. The network would be required to reach 95% of the U.S. population within a decade.

tags: Wi-Fi | FCC |

Sony PSP Software Update Includes Free T-Mobile Wi-Fi Access

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 29, 2007 - 2:27pm.

Foster City, Calif. - Sony Computer Entertainment America on Thursday released a new firmware upgrade (ver. 3.30) for its PSP handheld game system, which offers improved video resolution and six months of free access to Wi-Fi Internet at more than 7,000 T-Mobile HotSpot locations. Once the six-month promotional offer ends, Sony PSP owners will also be given the option to purchase a T-Mobile HotSpot subscription at a special rate.

tags: Games | Video | Sony | PSP | T-Mobile | Wi-Fi |

Report: One-third of U.S. Internet Users Have Used Wireless Internet

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 26, 2007 - 1:31pm.

Washington - About one-third of U.S. Internet users have logged on using a wireless connection, be it on a home network, in the workplace, at an Internet cafe or via their cell phones, according to a report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

tags: Mobile | Reports | Wi-Fi | Research | Pew Internet |

Diamond I Site Features Casino Games for Wi-Fi Gaming Handheld

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 30, 2006 - 12:17pm.
Las Vegas - Diamond I, a developer of wireless gaming products that take advantage of a new Nevada law authorizing mobile gaming devices in casinos, on Wednesday launched a website that offers the same games that will be available on its GS2 wireless gambling device.
tags: Games | Mobile Games | Gambling | Wireless | Wi-Fi | Casinos | Poker | Handhelds | Diamond I |

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service Hits 2 Million Users

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 28, 2006 - 11:49am.
Redmond, Wash. - Nintendo announced on Monday that over 2 million unique users have now logged onto Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, the company's free wireless gaming service for its DS handheld game system.
tags: Games | Wireless | Nintendo | DS | Wi-Fi | Handhelds |

RIAA Drops File-Sharing Lawsuit Against Wi-Fi Network User

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 11, 2006 - 1:05pm.
Los Angeles - The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) was recently compelled to drop one of its copyright infringement lawsuits against an alleged file-swapper, after the defendant argued that the RIAA could not definitively prove she was the person who illegally shared music files online.
tags: Law | Lawsuits | Music | RIAA | Wi-Fi | File-Sharing |

Sony Introduces $350 "Mylo" Wi-Fi Personal Communicator Device

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 8, 2006 - 1:19pm.
San Diego - Sony Electronics on Tuesday introduced the Mylo ("my life online"), a portable device that features Wi-Fi connectivity and offers access to a range of instant messaging services.
tags: Mobile | Audio | Sony | CE | Wi-Fi | PMP | Mylo |

Airgo Networks Chip to Power Video-Over-Wi-Fi Set-top Box

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 31, 2006 - 1:06pm.
Cologne, Germany - Airgo Networks, a manufacturer of Wi-Fi chips, announced that it has partnered with Chinese set-top box maker Caton and fellow chipmaker STMicroelectronics to develop set-tops that can deliver video over a Wi-Fi home network.
tags: Video | Tech | TV | CE | IPTV | Set-tops | Wi-Fi | Digital Home | Chips | Airgo | Caton | STMicroelectrons |

Broadcom to Power Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Features on Nintendo Wii

Authored by dmw on May 10, 2006 - 2:31am.
Irvine, Calif. - Chipmaker Broadcom announced on Wednesday that Nintendo's next-generation Wii video game console will feature Broadcom Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies. The Bluetooth technology eliminates cables between the console and game controllers and other accessories, while Broadcom's Wi-Fi chip will allow the Wii to go online for multiplayer gaming and to download extra content. Nintendo's Wii console is scheduled to ship in the fourth quarter.
tags: Games | Deals | Tech | Nintendo | Tech Deals | Games Tech | Wii | Bluetooth | Broadcom | Wi-Fi |

Report: 34,544 Restaurants, Cafes Now Offer Wi-Fi

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 23, 2006 - 2:51am.
San Francisco - Restaurants and cafes represent the fastest-growing segment of Wi-Fi hotspots, according to new data from San Francisco-based JiWire, a provider of public Wi-Fi hotspot information and services. The company said that 34,544 restaurants and cafes currently offer Wi-Fi access, an increase of 18,267 from a year ago. Tokyo has the most restaurants and cafes with Wi-Fi access (1,037), followed by London (578) and Singapore (410). San Francisco has 319, second in the U.S.
tags: Wi-Fi | Offer | Cafe | 34 | 544 Restaurants |

Worldwide Wi-Fi Hotspots Top 100,000 Mark

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 24, 2006 - 9:57am.
Washington - The number of worldwide Wi-Fi hotspots has now surpassed the 100,000 mark, according to new statistics from JiWire, a provider of Wi-Fi hotspot information and services. The company defines a hotspot as a physical address where people can connect to a public wireless network, such as a cafe, hotel or airport. JiWire said that Seoul (2,056) has the greatest number of hotspot locations, followed by Tokyo (1,802) and London (1,627). The top domestic Wi-Fi cities are San Francisco (801), New York (643) and Chicago (501). Locally, the company said there are now 249 hotspots in DC, 988 in Virginia and 712 in Maryland. "In just this past year, we've seen almost 100% growth in the number of hotspots around the world," said Kevin McKenzie, the CEO of JiWire.
tags: Wi-Fi | Worldwide | Hotspot |

Most Brits Uninterested in Wi-Fi Services, Survey Says

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 19, 2006 - 3:15am.
London - According to a new survey by electronics giant Toshiba, Brits have yet to warm to the idea of using Wi-Fi on their laptops. Only one in 10 respondents said they used Wi-Fi in hotels, while just 7% use Wi-Fi on trains. Less than 3% said they use the wireless service in coffee shops. About 23% of respondents said they were unwilling to pay for the service, while 19% said they were reluctant to use Wi-Fi because of security concerns. Nearly one in five admitted they do not know how to use the wireless functions of their laptops. Fifteen percent said there were too few hotspots throughout the U.K. to make the service worthwhile. "Many users appear to be failing to capitalise on the opportunities presented to them through mobility," said Toshiba's Steve Crawley.
tags: Wi-Fi | Survey | Brits |

Nintendo: 45% of "Mario Kart DS" Buyers Now Playing on Wi-Fi

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 22, 2005 - 11:00am.
Redmond, Wash. - Nintendo of America announced on Tuesday that 45% of consumers who purchased its "Mario Kart DS" racing game for the Nintendo DS in the past week have played the game online via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Nintendo said that it has so far sold 112,000 units of "Mario Kart DS" -- the first title to use the Wi-Fi Connection service -- and that nearly 52,000 unique users have logged on to play online.
tags: Games | Nintendo | Wi-Fi | Mario Kart DS |

Nintendo Launches Free Wi-Fi Gaming Service in Europe

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 7, 2005 - 2:47am.
London - Nintendo announced that it has teamed up with U.K.-based Wi-Fi hotspot providers The Cloud and BT Openzone to provide free wireless online gaming for European owners of the Nintendo DS console. Owners of the console will now be able to log on and play games with other DS owners using any of the more than 7,500 hotspots operated by The Cloud and BT across the U.K. Nintendo said the service would be up and running by Nov. 25 in the U.K. and on the rest of the Continent by an unspecified date. The first games to make use of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service will be "Mario Kart DS" from Nintendo and "Tony Hawk's American SK8Land" from Activision.
tags: Games | Europe | Nintendo | Wi-Fi |

Nintendo, IGN Partner on Wi-Fi Gaming Network for Nintendo DS

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 10, 2005 - 9:46am.
Redmond, Wash. -- Nintendo announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with IGN Entertainment, a provider of video game information and services, to create a wireless portable gaming network for its Nintendo DS handheld game console. Launching later this year, the Wi-Fi gaming network will use IGN's GameSpy technology to connect gamers to one another free of charge, whether connecting from a home Wi-Fi connection or from a public Wi-Fi hotspot. The Wi-Fi service will be utilized by a number of upcoming DS game titles, including "Animal Crossing." "With minimum setup procedures, Nintendo DS owners will be able to enjoy Wi-Fi gaming just as easily as if they were playing with their friends in the same room," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing.
tags: Games | Nintendo | DS | IGN | Wi-Fi |