
05-24-2005, 09:00 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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New Zealand Offers Free Wi-Fi for MSN Messenger
"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."

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.
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05-24-2005, 09:30 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
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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. :?
__________________
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05-24-2005, 09:39 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 841
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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:
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05-24-2005, 10:21 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 178
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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.
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05-24-2005, 10:45 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,389
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
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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)
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05-24-2005, 10:54 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 178
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Lee
Quote:
Originally Posted by lonesniper
A wireless ISP in the UK is offering free Skype access at the London train stations.
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Hmm.. free skype? wonder how they do that?
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"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
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.
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05-25-2005, 04:54 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 351
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:-)
Sweet...
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iPhone / iPod(s) / Mac Desktop & Portables.. yet I'm a Windows/MS Platform Dev ;)
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05-25-2005, 02:29 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 16
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Way to go Kiwis
G'day mates. Nice move NZ Telecom!
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05-25-2005, 06:27 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 119
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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.
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