New Zealand Offers Free Wi-Fi for MSN Messenger

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=4526' target='_blank'>http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.a...?ContentId=4526</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Telecom New Zealand is making MSN Messenger connections free on their wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) hotspots. You don't need an account with Telecom or Xtra (their ISP) to use the wireless service, which is available in some airports, hotels and Starbucks across New Zealand. While they still limit the full use of this wireless service to current Telecom account holders (which defeats the purpose for overseas visitors and people who do not use Telecom's services), it seems that there's some work in the background to enable roaming with some large wireless LAN provider, plus some other cool features."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050525-MessengerKiwi.jpg" /><br /><br />In a bowl, add two tablespoons of 'interesting', a pinch of 'strange' and one cup of 'cool', stir well - and you get the Kiwis' latest public hotspot innovation. :)

[Jonathan1]

Just Messenger? How much did MS pay them? It would be trivial to include all the various IM clients out there. Including just Messenger implies they actively don’t want people to use yahoo, AIM, ICQ, jabber. :?

[freitasm]

Hmmm. Yes, just MSN Messenger - have in mind that the XtraMSN Internet Portal belongs to Telecom New Zealand's ISP (Xtra), the country's largest.

The name says it all, doesn't it? :wink:

[lonesniper]

A wireless ISP in the UK is offering free Skype access at the London train stations. Think I might have heard about it here.

There should be more free wireless in the world, even if it is limited in some way.

[Jason Lee]

A wireless ISP in the UK is offering free Skype access at the London train stations. Think I might have heard about it here.

There should be more free wireless in the world, even if it is limited in some way.

Hmm.. free skype? wonder how they do that? Skype uses port 80 by default.. that should allow for free web browsing as well. Unless they are controling it based on packet content.

still free = 8)

[lonesniper]

A wireless ISP in the UK is offering free Skype access at the London train stations.

Hmm.. free skype? wonder how they do that?

"Skype has announced a new partnership with Broadreach Networks which is giving UK Skype users free Wi-Fi access to make free Skype calls in 350 Internet locations across the UK."
http://digital-lifestyles.info (http://digital-lifestyles.info/display_page.asp?section=distribution&amp;id=1977)

I knew I had read it someplace. I haven't tried it yet as don't often go to London now I have moved further south.

[kiwi]

Sweet...

:)

[ppc_kiwi]

G'day mates. Nice move NZ Telecom!

[x999x]

Interesting, gotta love Kiwis.

Hope to see something like this spread elsewhere, it sounds like a very ineresting marketing tool if you ask me.

In example, if MS itself decided to partner with hotspot providers, allowing MSN packet transmission for free, granted the service provider gets some of their own banners added to the rotation seen at the bottom of your device's MSN window.

food for thought billy.