Well, a good place to go that always has free wifi is Panera Bread/St. Louis Bread Co. (if you happen to be in the St. Louis area, the restaurant is the same, just different name.)

These are cafe/bakery places and all or nearly all offer free wifi, much better than paying for it at Starbucks.

CarbonFalcon

thank you Lifehacker...printed and placed in laptop bag

Seiven

I'd love to try this with my laptop and iPhone number... I might even be able to try it from the parking lot, allowing me to refrain from entering the unholy-ground.

@michaelportent: Most web sites you've seen don't differentiate between the iPhone and iPod Touch. The only real difference as far as the designer is concerned is that the phone doesn't need wifi, and therefore won't lose the connection when they leave starsucks. Thus, nobody bothers to build a different site for the phone than the touch.

@justinpe: Yes, most sites that have an iPhone/iPod Touch version of their site (like facebook, google, amazon, etc.) will automatically redirect you when using this trick. Some/most of them will also allow you to go to the normal site, if you find the option for it.

The Amazing Ant

As I'll be visiting the US soon (currently live in Aus) I'll be bringing my own laptop to use to contact family members back home. Do you know of any sites that list where free wi-fi is available?

Foiler

@michaelportent:

Yeah, you would probably just have to enter someone's iPhone #.

Not sure why so many people are still bitter about the $20 software upgrade for the touch. Apple has never offered feature adding updates for iPods.

justinpe

Free WiFi is good. Free internet is always good.

However, the down side is security.
I would highly doubt that places such as Starbucks would install switches or routers designed to withstand attacks from sniffers or ARP Poisoning, especially connection designed just for the iPhone.

Well, be careful when using this method to get free WiFi...

chensamurai

@downstairs:

I agree. You would think that companies like Starbucks would realize this and just offer free Wi-Fi to attract more customers.

justinpe

@blazedshaggy: Are you sure? Most sites/web apps that I've seen for the iPhone can't distinguish the difference between Safari browser in the iPhone and the one in the iPod Touch. I believe the web treats those browsers as one and the same.

michaelportent

...or you can just buy a pre-paid Starbucks card, use it for one coffee/month, and get free access 2 hours each day...and not have to toy with your browser's user agent: [www.starbucks.com] Oh -- and apparently AT&T DSL customers will get free access regardless of what you buy.

Still too noisy for me to be truly productive, but this'll be nice for when I travel!

Jeseekah

On the iPhone, when you visit a Web site, often times it will automatically load the mobile version of the site.

Does changing the browser's user agent on your laptop automatically redirect you to the mobile versions of these Web sites?

justinpe

Why would you hang out at a coffee shop that doesn't have free Wi-Fi? In most cities, there are plenty of places that do.

downstairs

don't suppose any iphone'ers want to post their number so the rest of us can get free internet :) lol

Darkmatter91

who said ipod touch? No one said anything about the ipod touch. This is about the iphone. :)

rmanla

ipod touchers will just get reamed again and have to pay another $20 extra for the service....

blazedshaggy

Great, now nobody's going to get free access.

workingonyourinvoice

what about iPod touch??

chwang

You Don't need to hack your user agent if you use Safari. Rather, it is simple to tell Safari to look like an iPhone via the "Develop->User Agent" menu item.

mbierman

@justinpe: If only Starbucks had been smart enough to realize this they would have a lot of customers now...wait what?

I'm glad my ATT DSL account will now get me access to Starbucks. I still prefer independent coffee shops because they are less crowded and give you enough room on a table to place BOTH your coffee and your laptop.

cisengineer

@Illuminator: We're borrowing Wi-Fi, not stealing.

KillDeer

Or just screw AT&T and the iPhone crap and get a real phone and a real mobile provider. Been running EVDO with Alltel for 3+ years now with no complaints. By far the best extra $5/mo I've spent in a long time. Also substantially more secure.

No need to try to find a Starf*cks and buy overpriced, over-roasted coffee and deal with people who are full of themselves.

FLConsumer

I can't believe I'm seeing this post, condoning the "stealing" wi-fi connectivity. You guys might want to rethink this one.

Illuminator

actually, if you have att DSL, then you automatically qualify regardless of iphone. there should be a link on the upper right of the home page you get when you open your browser @ starbucks, with something like "if you're an att dsl subscriber" or something like that. works fine for me and my mbp.

qrius

them if they have an ihone and what the # is

takemetoyourtoaster

I could just go to the At&t store next to the starbucks, go on their iphone and grab their number............ or just ask

takemetoyourtoaster

Anyone know if the number has to be a iPhone number. I have AT&T phone and pay dearly for unlimited data. You would think they'd allow it.

If not I can continue to use my phones bandwidth via bluetooth.

ericmoritz

@KillDeer: I love borrowing stuff

DT

McDonalds also!

toastydoc

And two days later the vulnerability was fixed.

Thanks news sites, for fucking up another trick through overexposure.

Urza

@Foiler: I swear by Indie Coffee Shops -- you can limit your search to those with free WiFi.

fakely-mctest

@chwang:
Mobile safari identifies slightly differently on the iPhone and touch. You'll *probably* be able to get through to the portal on your touch, but again, you'll need a phone number.

MaxJG

Now I finally have a reason to get my friends' phone numbers. :)

koalasthewise

@ Illuminator, your comment: "I can't believe I'm seeing this post, condoning the "stealing" wi-fi connectivity. You guys might want to rethink this one. "

Where do you see a "stealing"? They offer a connexion to iphones, and that's what this post is all about; whether the iphone redirects then the bandwidth to your laptop can in no way be called "stealing".

Star-burk surely know what they're doing, and that a small percentage will take advantage; so what..?

Prerna

I always thought Starbucks offered free wifi to all anyway. I believe it's the case here in Switzerland, at least.

Prerna

So how long do you think it will be before they come up with a better way of checking for iphone devices, I am sure that if they put the proper time to think of one, this would not be an issue

bittis

@Darkmatter91: Why don't you just go to the Apple store, get on their free phones and pull some numbers out of there? I know you might be scared to go in there, but don't worry, you'll come out alive.

Joseph

Hey, the Drawbacks near where I live just went out of business! Cool!

KJones

makes me want to live in some Utopian paradise where wireless Internet access is everywhere and free.

Heck I always thought Starbucks let you use its Internet if bought something, damn cheap bastards.

Costermonger

Def. works on hacked T-Mobile iPhone. Writing this from one in a Barnes and Noble right now. Just put in any random phone number.

Shhh. Don't tell anyone...

Nchall

Can you hack the PSP to do this?

berribrand

@workingonyourinvoice:

No kidding. Why ruin a good thing? Argh.

Also, for the rest, to avoid being redirected to iPhone sites (though they're rare) you can pry change your user agent back to regular after you go through the intro form.

Grantium

@Foiler: Try this one: [www.wififreespot.com]

FreeMan

@berribrand: no, since theres no way to change the user agent on the psp browser.

firesign

I just go across the street to Panera Bread an sip all the hot fresh free wi-fi I want. With any browser or device.

Scott K.

@foiler - The two best sites i know of for free wifi are [www.wififreespot.com] and [anchorfree.com]

If you come to Eugene, Oregon you can use my map - [ourpla.net]

johnca

Great.

Now its gone.

Thanks news sites.

Urza

@Nchall: Hey, just wanted to say thanks for fucking it up for the legit iphone users.

graffiksguru

They [Starbucks - B & N] probably don't have any way to verify an At&T number - so you'd probably get away with plugging most anything in_

uberfu