Telecom and Starbucks (and soon McDonald's)

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freitasm

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#2474 11-Oct-2004 07:33

What's on with these companies? I understand that Starbucks makes coffee, and McDonald's specialises in hamburgers, but their IT department should know better... Or perhaps it's the marketing department taking over (as usual)?

Don't they realise that Telecom NZ wireless LAN offer is only available to Xtra users? There's no casual user, no one can walk in and buy a few minutes (like on CafeNet, Reach Wireless or Boingo).

What happens to international travellers, or people like me that don't have an Xtra account?

How smart this can be?

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alasta

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#9260 11-Oct-2004 08:26

The article on Stuff.co.nz suggests that non-Xtra users can access the system, but will pay a premium for it. As to how much of a premium, they don't say.

freitasm

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#9261 11-Oct-2004 08:34

The article says this option for casual users should be available by the time the roll-out is done... It's not available now, and promisses are only promisses, as we know...

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pland

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#9271 11-Oct-2004 20:54

At $2.82 a month incl GST for an Xtra email only account - is this really an issue ?
One less Big M or Coffee per month to get the service.

pland

freitasm

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#9272 11-Oct-2004 21:12

Nope the cost is not the issue. Think about visitors coming here that are used to walk into a Borders bookshop or a Starbucks and fire up their laptops/PDA and check e-mail, upload orders, etc... This kind of stuff is not available until Telecom puts a plan for casual users.

By the way, wireless LAN at Starbucks and Borders is provided by a mobile operator: T-Mobile.

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tonyhughes

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#9572 24-Oct-2004 00:50

Telecom -will- provide access to outsiders on a casual basis, but they will pay more. By limiting to Xtra users, a spinoff is that they will have a smaller group to iron out bugs with i suppose.

I love WiFi, Its the best thing since anything really.

slippers

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#9951 5-Nov-2004 19:41

The only way to use the hotspot service is with an Xtra account.
There has been travellers come and try to access wifi and gone round and round the telegoround Xtra Helpdesk to Telecom to Xtra to Telecom 10 or more times before they actually get an account.

What needs to happen IMHO - is these restaurants need to be allocated x amount of Xtra email accounts and give these to customers to use on a case by case basis.

its 3G time!

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tonyhughes

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#9954 5-Nov-2004 20:45

Thats a great idea. I must go in sometime and try Wifi access as Joe Bloggs casual non-xtra user.

alasta

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#9962 5-Nov-2004 22:29

Is the McDonalds WiFi service actually operating now, or is it something that they are planning for the future? If so, is there a list anywhere of McDonalds restaurants that offers the service? I have tried both the McDonalds and Telecom web sites and they don't seem to offer any relevant information.

freitasm

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#9963 5-Nov-2004 22:38

As usual... I think it's active - or at least the Starbucks ones. I've noticed that my iPAQ is now showing a new "Telecom" hotspot when I'm close to the Starbucks on Lambton Quay (Wellington). Also in Courtenay Place.

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alasta

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#9964 5-Nov-2004 22:49

Hmmm...the hotspot finder on Telecom's web site shows four Starbucks outlets in Wellington, but no McDonalds outlets. Starbucks isn't much use to me, because I'm more of a tea drinker, but I don't mind paying a visit to McDonalds because I love fatty food and I can never be bothered cooking. :)

I guess I should take my laptop into the Lambton Quay McDonalds at some stage to see if it'll pick up a signal. If any McDonalds outlet in the country has WiFi, Lambton Quay should. Mind you, I could just go to the McDonalds at the Courtenay Central foodcourt, and then I could use CafeNet which would eliminate the need to have an Xtra account. :)

aucklander2004

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#12396 1-Feb-2005 23:29

watch this wifi space - expect to see Mcdonalds move slowly, Starbucks do well, more gas stations doing it, truck loads of zones around NZ - I reckon by years end, we may see more hot spots than mobile phone towers! although coverage won't be the same obviously.

Anyhow - you pay for convenience - if you want free service, expect to jump through hoops. In the current telecom situation, think of all the modelling data they are getting by offering free service to xtra customers!

Very clever and good luck to them - wi-fi is todays disruption to power tomorrows convenience!