T-Mobile and Boingo have inked a pact that will extend the companies' Wi-Fi Hotspot sharing
Wireless carrier T-Mobile U.S.A. and Boingo Wireless, a provider of Wi-Fi service in hotels, airports and other facilities, have extended and expanded an existing wireless-network-sharing deal that will give some T-Mobile mobile broadband subscribers access to more than 50 new Wi-Fi hotspots in public transportation facilities.
More specifically, T-Mobile Hotspot and postpaid mobile broadband subscribers will get free Wi-Fi access at 53 new airport locations, in areas including New York and Chicago, as well as free wireless at Washington State Ferry locales in and around Seattle. The agreement covers both laptop users and customers with Wi-Fi enabled handhelds.
Boingo customers have had access to T-Mobile Hotspots in various U.S. airports; American, United, U.S. Airways and Delta airline lounges; and Hyatt hotels. And this network sharing will continue under the new T-Mobile/Boingo deal.
Boingo Wi-Fi plans start at $7.99 a month for handhelds and $9.99 a month for laptops. T-Mobile Hotspot plans start at $9.99 per month for existing T-Mobile voice customers and $39.99 a month for new customers.
As both a T-Mobile and Boingo customers, I won’t likely benefit from this new deal personally—I already have access to all the hotspots covered in the new pact. But the expansion should certainly prove valuable to a variety of T-Mobile customers.
In related news, Google has once again said it will provide free holiday Wi-Fi in major U.S. airports until January 2, 2011.
AS
Al Sacco covers Mobile and Wireless for CIO.com. Follow Al on Twitter @ASacco. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline. Email Al at ASacco@CIO.com.
