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Get free Wi-Fi at Starbucks with or without an iPhone from AT&T

AT&T is offering iPhone owners free Wi-Fi at hotspots managed by the company, including those at megachain Starbucks. But all the system checks is the user-agent string supplied by the iPhone's Safari browser and a phone number from a working iPhone. So anyone with a laptop can simply change their browser's user-agent string, put in the phone number of a friend with an iPhone, et voila! Free Wi-Fi. Why you won't get? The phone number of the cute barista you've been flirting with in vain. (Via Slashdot, photo by Synthesis Studios)

3:40 PM on Fri May 2 2008
By Jackson West
1,380 views
4 comments

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  • Image of WagCurious WagCurious at 04:38 PM on 05/02/08
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    I promised myself I would not hassle Jackson for no content after the jump, and I am not going to break that promise!

  • Image of lonerock lonerock at 04:43 PM on 05/02/08
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    "Free" is the new term for expensive. So with my hacked iPhone on T-mobile I pay $6 a month for my unlimited data plan. But for $20 I get data and WiFi on T-mobile. Lets see that compares to AT&T's iPhone plan that was $20 for data, and now comes with "free" Wifi!

    It's all doubleplusungood!

  • Image of sample032 sample032 at 05:48 PM on 05/02/08
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    Lifehacker's going to be pissed when they see that you didn't just link to them.

  • Image of raincoaster raincoaster at 04:40 PM on 05/03/08
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    Sooner or later, there will be free wi-fi at all Starbucks. They're about the only place in Vancouver that still charges for it, and cafes here are so close to one another that you can use Moneypenny's wi-fi while sitting at Starbucks. There's no choice but to go free eventually.

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