Los Angeles (CA) – AT&T has retracted its offer of free wireless Internet access for iPhone users.  According to company officials, the offer was mistakenly put up on the AT&T website earlier today, but it was quickly removed after just a few hours.  This is the second time AT&T has jumped the gun on the free wireless announcement.

The original text of the website read, “We are proud to offer iPhone customers free access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi hotspot network with more than 17,000 hotspots.”  AT&T hotspots typically located at Starbucks coffee shops, many airports and bookstores.  iPhone users at such hotspots would presumably be able to check their emails, surf the web and possibly use VoIP clients at a much higher speed than AT&T 3G network.  In addition, battery life could also be increased – early iPhone reviewers claim 3G usage severely impacts battery life.

Back in April, AT&T said free wireless would eventually be available to iPhone users, but so far it hasn't commented on specific dates.  It’s obvious that something will happen soon since a webpage has already been created.  Back in May, AT&T also mistakenly popped up an announcement of free wireless access.

Opening up wireless access to iPhone units would relieve AT&T cellular networks because traffic would be offloaded through traditional landlines installed at the wireless hotspots.  However, revenue from voice and text messaging might be adversely affected if people use VoIP apps to tunnel traffic past AT&T’s prying eyes.  Recently, SIPGATE announced that its application would allow VoIP access through jailbroken iPhones.

Some market research analysts claim the 3G iPhone sold over three million units since its Friday launch.

Screw i-phone and AT&T

Jul 18, 2008 16:17     

I have AT&T and I can't stand them. I wouldn't even consider getting an i-phone. Cell phone companies get along with Apple because they think the same.
J. Doe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -5

Screw You

Jul 18, 2008 17:05     

Not that it's a great idea to return fire with fire but... how about "Screw you and your face!"? Unless you really mean that you want to screw i-phone right in the phone charger and then personally screw every single ATT subsriber and employee? Random shit comments like that is what takes up the space on the server racks that could have been used for something else. Be responsible human freaken being - F-in teens...

you report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -9

You're about 3x too high on the # of iPhones sold

Jul 18, 2008 21:42     

Apple has publicly stated 1 million iPhones sold -- your estimate of 3 million seems very high given Apple's guidance.
Wayne Schulz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Capitalism

Jul 18, 2008 22:40     

@J.Doe Ummm, may I suggest that if you hate AT&T so much to go to a different phone service, just a thought. My experience has been they are all about the same. I so far have enjoyed my iPhone and my AT&T service has been as good as teh Verizon account I canceled (see you can do it) to get my iPhone. (By the way I apologize if it turns out you have no choice because your mom won't spring for a new iPhone)

Iphone report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -2

think before you type

Jul 19, 2008 06:18     

No one else wanted the iphone because they did not wnat to incur the costs that were associated with it. Therefore AT&T has a mutually exclusive contract with Apple for the iphone. To my knowledge the iphone is the only phone that Apple produces. I would say that means that other cell phone companies do not get along with Apple. It sounds to me like the previous post is the ramblings of an uninformed and unhappy customer.

gaylord274 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Free Wi-Fi

Jul 19, 2008 07:46     

How can a huge company "accidentally" release false info two months apart ?
SlipSlide report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

AT&T has nerve

Jul 19, 2008 08:56     

Why no mention that not one At&T store has the iphone to begin with. Talk about poor planing. Call a store and see for yourself. I don't care where you are. They will tell you, don't have them, didn't have them and no idea when we will have them. Nice way to run a business!C
mark report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2

Conflict Driven Media

Jul 19, 2008 09:58     

Once I figured out that all media articles are conflict driven, I take all things written in the media with a grain of salt. Almost nobody would have noticed this offer from AT&T unless TGDaily, being very gracious, informed everyone of it. The amount of people appalled by this offer/retraction of AT&T would have been pretty limited if not for TGDaily's uhm...tenacity?
Thomas report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

@ J. Doe

Jul 19, 2008 18:02     

You are clearly stating those facts out of no factual basis at all. I actually would bet you have never tried an Iphone. And you saying you hate ATT and having them at the same time says something all on its own. I agree AT&T Has its issues, they charge to much for minimal services for one. But I have them because they do have the best overall coverage in my state, and because most people I know have them making how many minutes I have almost useless as it is all Mobile-Mobile minutes. For the Iphone, it has its issues just like any other phone, but it IS a fantastic mobile device. Especially at its current upgrade fee reduced price. Don't blame Apple or the Iphone for the expense either, talk to AT&T (and don't think it would be any cheaper through any of the other major cell phone competitors, because it wouldn't)

crawlgsx report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

it's funny the price for AT&T's iphone plan for unl...

Jul 20, 2008 08:51     

it's funny the price for AT&T's iphone plan for unlimited talk, data and sms is the same for Verizon's blackberry users. with the exception that Verizon locked the gps on the blackberry so there is an extra $10 a month for the vz navigator.
mike report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

3 million

Jul 20, 2008 10:25     

reports are that Apple simply underestimated demand, and only ordered 1.5 million in the first manufacturing run. they sold 1M in the first weekend, and since then have had some pretty severe shortages, that's all. 3 million is a bit on the high side at this point :)
Adam report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

That false announcement was a Marketing gap

Jul 20, 2008 12:10     

Coz a lot of people is worried for the battery life(wireless access is best than 3G one).And when apple did that ad, many people buy their iphones. That was a good bussiness for apple. But it is
KABUKICHO2001 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

!

Jul 21, 2008 01:12     

I don't believe Apple failed to aniticipate iPhone mania again; it's already happened. And they know their fanbase well- it's legendary. I think it was a ploy to drive up "demand", the way I suspect the 'accidental' announcement of free wifi was also supposed to help consumers make incorrect assumptions. I have a very low perception of Apple as a company now.
soga0hyropon report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

So...

Jul 21, 2008 13:52     

I can't use this thing in my house with my own wifi and run my very own skype account on it? The Nerve!
Johny Talker report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

IMHO: Apple and AT&T suck: deal with it emo kids

Jul 21, 2008 14:51     

Sorry, I don't like their tactics. If you don't agree with me, so be it. I think you're missing something... a clue.
Hax Or report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1