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April 18, 2006

Yahoo Testing Free Wifi Product

Michael Arrington

40 comments »

Yahoo isn’t just testing a new home page layout - they are also testing a new wifi service with selected users.

The survey (screen shot below) suggests that Yahoo’s new messenger product will be able to access certain wifi networks and allow IMing and VOIP calls (this is assuming those networks are restricted in some way). They do not name the networks the may be partnering with, but do say:

Now when you are on the move to the places that you go most - airports, hotels, coffee shots - you can stop twiddling your thumbs and start communicatinig via instant message with the people you care about most…all for free.

If the service goes live, you will also be able to get unrestricted access to those networks for $7.95 per month, or two hours for $2.95.

Screen shot below. Thanks Razvan for the tip.

  • Sphere It

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 at 9:33 am and is filed under Company & Product Profiles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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Comments

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  1. matt

    April 18th, 2006 at 10:02 am

    I am all for cheap wifi…This could cause Comcast and others to stop charging so much for access especially in areas where there hasn’t been competition. Who knows how long before it is really offered and where though. We heard about google doing this and I still haven’t seen any wide spread adoption yet. Any one have information on when inexpensive Wifi will actually be a viable option…we need to catch up to the rest of the world!

  2. Vlad

    April 18th, 2006 at 10:09 am

    This is good news. I hate paying the $15+ airport wifi providers usually charge per day.

    I can’t wait for the day when cellphone data rates come down as well.

  3. durrty

    April 18th, 2006 at 10:16 am

    They aren’t really offering cheap WiFi, as you will only be able to IM or make VoIP calls, you’re paying $3 to talk on Yahoo Messenger for 2 hours.

  4. Jason Coleman

    April 18th, 2006 at 10:17 am

    Ok, I get it. So you will be able to use *Yahoo! Messenger* for free on participating WiFi network, but you would still have to pay to access *the internet*.

    Could be useful. I don’t use Yahoo! Messenger now, but it seems like people may use those RSS chat bots more often if something like this went into effect.

    In any case, the ability to pay one company for access to Wifi anywhere is very exciting.

  5. Berkay Mollamustafaoglu

    April 18th, 2006 at 10:28 am

    It is likely that the partner is Boingo http://www.boingo.com. The deal sounds almost exactly like the Skype Zones http://www.skype.com/products/skypezones/
    which is a joint offer of Skype and Boingo.
    As stated in another comment above, the connectivity is limited to IM and VOIP. Boingo has the full WiFi access for $21.95
    It sure beats the outrages roaming fees mobile providers charge.

  6. Cow

    April 18th, 2006 at 10:47 am

    Internet over VoIP anyone?

  7. Saul Weiner

    April 18th, 2006 at 11:01 am

    Do you think this is a compete with the play that Google/Earthlink are making?

  8. Nick Douglas

    April 18th, 2006 at 11:29 am

    I’d rather pay Yahoo for universal wifi than Earthlink.

  9. Fortino

    April 18th, 2006 at 11:47 am

    Hey #4.

    Verizon already offers what you are looking for. They offer what they call BroadbandAccess…it’s nothing more than pervasive wireless access.

    All you need is their little modem thinger for your lappie. Unlimited access at $59 per month.

    works great.

  10. Jct

    April 18th, 2006 at 1:09 pm

    This is already being done with Boingo and Skype. Skype Zones Beta. Looks like Yahoo is using the same service.

  11. Collin

    April 18th, 2006 at 2:05 pm

    > They aren’t really offering cheap WiFi, as you will only be able to IM or make VoIP calls, you’re paying $3 to talk on Yahoo Messenger for 2 hours.

    Read it again. The IM/VoIP is free, and you can pay $3 to get full web access for 2 hours.

  12. filemorf

    April 18th, 2006 at 4:58 pm

    looks like its 7.95 for unlimited so what you bitching about and if you need more coverage yes like someone else said verizon EVDO is awsome though little pricy and too bad verizon is the most evil access provider out there, I would only use them if no other choices were available.

  13. Prashant Sarkar

    April 18th, 2006 at 7:50 pm

    The screenshot looks almost exactly the same as the one from the Skype Zones page! In fact the list of Wi-fi zones is the same too! hmmm…
    http://www.skype.com/products/skypezones/

  14. Joe Anderson

    April 19th, 2006 at 3:49 am

    I agree with Jct, it is basically Skye Zones. All except Skype Zones costs!

  15. liz

    May 15th, 2006 at 6:54 pm

    i would like to know how to get the new yahoo home page look for my sight, my brother has it on his sigt ?

  16. flexjszoz

    May 21st, 2006 at 8:30 am

    hleylaguk wjpdmm brffrrrk

  17. .Ramin

    May 23rd, 2006 at 11:34 pm

    doset daram

  18. Hotelguru

    August 21st, 2006 at 5:20 am

    Great stuff - Yahoo! seems to be putting on its gear to take on the current heavies in the industry. The Link with Sheraton, announced this year was also a great initiative.

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