AT&T has decided to make a very generous offer to the Southern California region after wildfires swept through the terrain and destroyed homes and ruined lives in it’s path. The areas that AT&T has stated it will be offering Free Hot Spot Wi-Fi services are San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Orange and Ventura counties. There will be about 600 locations to get AT&T hot spot wi-fi at no charge.
The offering began on October 27th, 2007 at all of the listed locations. The AT&T Vice President stated, “We want to help residents in Southern California in any way that we can and by enabling free Wi-Fi at hundreds of AT&T hot spot locations, we’re hoping to provide families and friends with another way to stay connected - and to reconnect - throughout this difficult time.”
Anything that uses a Wi-Fi connection is fair game so all iPhones, PDAs, Laptops and other gizmos can be found buzzing at rates that are hard to beat throughout Southern California. The free access is expected to last at least 3 weeks.
The first place to announce AT&T would be giving away free Wi-Fi was CBS8.com and released the information in their minute by minute updates of the San Diego Wildfires here. CBS8 was also the same station that did a story on their nightly news about AT&T being very short and rude with a customer that had lost their Dish receiver in the San Diego Wildfires. AT&T had asked the couple if they had a chance to grab their receiver when leaving their burning home. when the couple said they did not, AT&T simply stated they would be receiving a bill for $300 and that it needed to be paid immediately. The couple asked AT&T if they could postpone the bill until their home insurance made a settlement and AT&T said that they wouldn’t make any exceptions and the bill would be just like any other.
Not long after this story broke on the news, landed on YouTube and hit the frontpage of Digg AT&T back peddled to state that there was a misunderstanding. AT&T stated that their disaster policy was not understood by the customer service representative and that the $300 fee would waived.This was definitely a smart move by AT&T to try and reverse all the bad publicity they generated by generously giving away their Wi-Fi at the Hot Spots in Southern California. AT&T is trying to prove that corporations aren’t always evil and greedy. Kudos to AT&T.What do you think about AT&T giving away free Wi-Fi? Do you think it’s too late? Do you think this was done to just cover up all the bad press AT&T received for being uncompassionate to Southern California fire victims? If you have AT&T Dish service or AT&T or want to speak your mind or you think AT&T has done right or wrong and want to speak your mind we want to hear from you.
Share This
no, donny. they are not in competition. at&t, cingular, t-mobile….all one happy family.
This will definitely become handy in the recovery process.
Well, from what I’ve been able to piece together of this story, AT&T alone is providing the hotspot services… T-Mobile has nothing to do with it. I’m not sure where the author of the story got T-Mobile from?
Check out AT&T’s press release here.
Balath “If they can do that in Cali, why couldn’t they do that in Burma a few weeks ago. Imagine how they could have changed things just by giving the information an outlet.”
Maybe its because ATT isn’t in Burma…
Free wi-fi is lame, everyone offers free wifi. I have a ipod touch and i can access the internet from pretty much anywhere. I live in southern california, and it has been hell out here, at&t is lame, free wi-fi is hardly any relief for anyone out here, and it is a weak apology for a “miscommunication”.
T-Mobile is the one offering T-Mobile HotSpots service for *select* areas in California due to the tragic fires in these areas. T-Mobile released this informaton as part of a public press release in the later half of last week. Information on this can be found at parent company’s website. If you are in an effected area or need more information you may call T-Mobile customer care at 611 from your T-mobile handset or 1-800-937-8997.
its good see ATT doing something good for the world.
Perhaps this giant is changing. It can happen.
Bravo!
this is damage control from that other news story about a couple who lost their home in the fire would have to pay $300 for the un-returned satellite dish. (which AT&T later withdrew the charges)
That and maybe earn some brownie points so they won’t be held responsible for wiretapping, lol.
Whoever wrote this does indeed need to get the story straight. According to the press releases, both T-Mobile and AT&T are offering free Wi-Fi in Southern California. However, T-Mobile announced it first (Oct. 24 as opposed to Oct. 26). AT&T’s Wi-Fi spots will be free for longer, as T-Mobile’s offering ends on Oct. 31.
…and hand over their personal information to Bushco!
all hail the ‘great’ bush regime.
The airwaves are public we just let companies use them. So, this is perfect feudalism and you can’t even see it.
AT&T: “See, these national resources I stole from you to make huge profits — you can have them for 3 weeks because your city burned down”
what a fucked up country!
Hey, isn’t AT&T the company that made it easy for Bush to listen in on your phone calls and read all your e-mails?
Yep.
So, if your a small guy AT&T will dick you around but if you can get national attention service will be yours!
As happened with the tragic bridge collapse incident - unfinished muni-WiFi got switched on soon after search & recovery efforts began, to aid vehicles title searches & collapsed structures data - wireless connectivty services benefit(s) will be noted & utilized in future disasters…evolutionary, schemes are evolving - ALOHA!
as a customer service rep working with the public and having had to deal with crisis such as the fires in southern california, it is hard keeping up with the lastest information and how to handle all the situations. We were getting information numerous times throughout the day advising us how to handle the unique needs of each customer. We are all human. Not only did we have friends and co-worker affected by the fires but some of us lost our homes. Must be nice to be PERFECT!!! and never make a mistake!!! I get so tired of all the bad press the company i work for gets. I challenge any of you to handle the calls for 8 hours a day, from very upset customers, all the while not knowing if you yourself have a home to return that night. The policy of the company from day one was to show compassion, too bad none of you can show that to us.
Evening to you all! Nice blog posting about gives FREE Wi-Fi to Southern California. I would have to agree with you on this one. I am going to look more into at&t. This Wednesday I have time.
Hi, Nice blog posting about gives FREE Wi-Fi to Southern California. I would have to agree with you on this one. I am going to look more into at&t. This Wednesday I have time.
I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well. But it was interesting! Look for some my links: