AT&T Expands Wi-Fi for DSL Subscribers

By Geoff Duncan January 23, 2008

AT&T Expands Wi-Fi for DSL Subscribers — Image used with permission by copyright holder

AT&T has announced it is throwing open the doors of its nationwide Wi-Fi network to its more than 10 million subscribers to currently subscribe to 1.5 Mbps DSL or greater broadband service. The unlimited access will be available at no additional charge for users who sign up through the AT&T Web site, and will provide unlimited Wi-Fi access at more than 9,000 McDonald’s restaurants and more than 1,000 other Wi-Fi hotspots operated by Wayport.

“Consumers today expect and demand a premier broadband experience—including a consistent, reliable connection no matter where they are,” said AT&T’s chief marketing officer Rick Welday, in a statement. “Our priority is to keep our customers connected. Period. Extending our Wi-Fi network supports this effort—and doing so for free combines even greater value with greater connectivity.”

AT&T initially offered Wi-Fi access back in 2007 as a benefit with its high-speed broadband subscription packages. Purchased separately, Wi-Fi access would have cost AT&T broadband customers $60/year, or $240/year for non-broadband customers.

Wayport also provides Wi-Fi access for Nintendo’s Wi-Fi based gaming service and the Zipit Wireless messaging service. AT&T maintains a list of Wi-Fi locations.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Deals

Lorex introduces 2K Outdoor Pan-Tilt WiFi Camera to eradicate blind spots

Lorex 2K Pan-Tilt WiFi Outdoor Security Camera mounted on stone wall.

Smart home security is one of the more practical implementations of modern "smart" technologies. What's most promising about it is the oversight and convenience it affords. Once a smart home camera is installed on your property, indoors or out, you can tune in remotely, streaming the live feed to your phone or device to check in on what's happening. Wi-Fi-enabled doorbells are an excellent example of this technology in action, as they allow you to see who's at your door, interact with visitors, and much more. You can actually do the same things with a smart security camera, including talking to visitors or warning off intruders. However, pretty much all of these smart devices have a crippling caveat -- blind spots. Depending on where you install your camera, there are frequently blind spots where the camera can't see, and, thus, where you can't see. That's the problem the Lorex Outdoor Pan-Tilt WiFi Security Camera aims to solve.

Thanks to its impressively wide field of view -- which means it can see and capture a lot -- and its motorized lens, the Lorex Pan-Tilt can be adjusted remotely through the Lorex Home App to ensure you always have a clear view of what's happening in the surrounding area. That's precisely why our reviewer Caleb Denison was interested in the Lorex Outdoor Pan-Tilt, and also why he installed it in his home. We'll let him explain it a little better:

Smart Home

How to connect your Ring camera or doorbell to Wi-Fi

The Ring Video Doorbell 4 beside a door.

Ring's assortment of security cameras and video doorbells are excellent smart home devices that allow you to add peace-of-mind surveillance to your residence in just a few simple steps. Think of your home's internet as the lifeblood of your Ring device. Whether you're connecting a new Ring device to your Wi-Fi for the first time, or your camera or doorbell requires a reconnection, getting your Ring product online is a quick and easy process that we explain below.

Smart Home

Smart homes without Wi-Fi: Huge possibilities or roadblocks?

Amazon Echo Show 15 hanging horizontally on the wall.

When it comes to smart home automations, there really isn't much that can't be done these days. From the moment you wake in the morning to the final minutes before bed, by issuance of a few simple voice commands, you can check your daily schedule, raise and lower blinds, fire up a pot of coffee, stream news radio, lock and unlock doors, initiate a video call, and so much more.
And as product developers are continuing to roll out new and innovative features, today's leading smart home devices are getting easier to use, more efficient, and -- you guessed it -- smarter. With innovation around every turn, what could possibly be improved upon?
Our hot take: The reliance on our Wi-Fi networks to operate this equipment.

The Internet of Things and ecosystems
The vast majority of smart home devices require a web connection, which is why this class of consumer tech and its related peripherals are often referred to as Internet of Things (IoT) components. While this label can be applied to essentially any hardware that has the capability of connecting to the internet, the phrase takes on a new meaning when discussing smart devices.