Internode offers simplified free Wi-Fi for iPhone users

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 15 September 2008 11:03

Your IT - Mobility

To ensure iPhone users can still access data for things like the stocks and weather apps, and email, Internode has improved how iPhone users connect to an Internode hotspot.

Internode managing director and keen iPhone advocate (i.e. fanboi) explains it thus:

 “After your one-off setup, an Internode hotspot now works at WiFi broadband speeds – for free.

“This overcomes a real-world problem where advanced services will fail if your iPhone is configured to automatically connect to a wireless hotspot that requires a manual log on to the Internet.

“Now Internode Wireless hotspots recognise a previously configured iPhone and automatically set up WiFI access. It just works, demonstrating that Internode Wireless hotspots are totally iPhone-friendly.

“The same 'no login required' access also extends to using Internode email and Apple MobileMe and iDisk functions from a Mac or PC laptop in Internode hotspots.”

So, although Internode’s Wi-Fi access was already free for notebook, smartphone and iPhone users, making it easier to connect lets you use your iPhone more naturally when in range.

One big question will be whether iPhone OS 2.1 stops iPhone users being charged for 3G data even though they were connected to a Wi-Fi network, as APCMag reported a couple of weeks ago.

But that’s not Internode’s problem, but rather Apple’s and the carriers’. At least someone out there is offering free Wi-Fi – if only it was available everywhere!