McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet

ernestrp · 12-16-09, 03:51 PM

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...551817166.html

Free internet and 1.00 menu items!!!

danwiz · 12-16-09, 05:15 PM

So, this is now coming to the US, eh! It's been this way in Japan for some time now, but unfortunately their wireless internet is sometimes only a tiny little wireless transmitter which requires you to stand right on the spot which says "free wireless here". I experienced this at one McDonald's here - could not move outside of about a 3 foot diameter circle or else the wireless disappeared. Pretty shoddy eh?!

TomOpus · 12-16-09, 06:58 PM

First it was McCafe... now free wifi. McDonald's sure hates Starbucks.

Coral · 12-16-09, 08:14 PM

Free wireless is exactly what McDonald's customers need - a reason to be sedentary for a longer period of time while eating fast food.

cardsfan111 · 12-16-09, 08:30 PM

I'm glad to hear this news. I'll admit to using the pay service at a McDonald's once before, but I wasn't real happy about it.

BigDaddy · 12-16-09, 08:47 PM

I noticed a wifi signal a few months ago at McDonald's. I could not get it to connect on my iPhone. I had no idea they charged for the service. Nice to have it free.

Groucho · 12-16-09, 09:03 PM

Haven't they been offering this for years, sort of, for DS owners only?

Ranger · 12-16-09, 09:24 PM

I think this is great news. Didn't know they offered it before for $2.95. Some of the newer McDs look really nice.

Although, I wouldn't actually use it. I don't want any food or drinks near my precious electronics.

RichC2 · 12-17-09, 12:34 AM

You know, I once pulled into a Krystal and saw a redneck guy in a wife beater playing World of Warcraft on his laptop using their free Wireless while munching on sliders and thought it was an interesting reflection on today's society.

I think it would have been better if it were a McDs.

Raul3 · 12-17-09, 09:03 AM

It was free for iPhone users too.

Lateralus · 12-17-09, 11:05 AM

The two McDonalds by my office have had free Internet access for at least the past year. They have big signs out front stating that it is "Free Interent access"

Trevor · 12-17-09, 11:07 AM

I hope it's not one of those where you have to create an account.

dogmatica · 12-17-09, 11:07 AM

McDonald's in my area has had wifi for a while now.

mike07 · 12-17-09, 12:46 PM

My local McDonald's has had WiFi access for awhile now, but not for free. If they were smart they'd include free WiFi codes on their food items (say one of those scratch tickets on the large fry container or something nutty like that).

palebluedot · 12-18-09, 05:50 PM

Strange, I thought the US had this. We have had free wireless in McDonalds here in Australia for quite a long time now. Do they not have McCafe in the US though? McCafe is the only reason I go to McDonalds, good coffee.

ScissorPuppy · 12-18-09, 06:57 PM

This something I always wondered about. If someone connects to the internet via a wi-fi connection from McDonalds or somewhere else (Library, Coffee shop etc.) and they download something illegal like a song or dvd- Aren't these companies putting themselves at legal risk? Or is there a law that states the companies would not be at fault? Then I guess they would have to track down the person who did the downloading, but that might be hard, right?

Just wondering, and before anyone accuses, no I am not interested in using Micky Dees to download anything, I'm just assuming someone will try.

al_bundy · 12-18-09, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScissorPuppy

This something I always wondered about. If someone connects to the internet via a wi-fi connection from McDonalds or somewhere else (Library, Coffee shop etc.) and they download something illegal like a song or dvd- Aren't these companies putting themselves at legal risk? Or is there a law that states the companies would not be at fault? Then I guess they would have to track down the person who did the downloading, but that might be hard, right?

Just wondering, and before anyone accuses, no I am not interested in using Micky Dees to download anything, I'm just assuming someone will try.

i've never tried, but i imagine they would run some sort of device that monitors traffic and blocks any potentially illegal or network hogging app. something like a firewall

Ranger · 12-18-09, 10:04 PM

I hope they also have a user download speed cap like 1 mbps.

12-16-09, 03:51 PM	#1
ernestrp DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,390	McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...551817166.html Free internet and 1.00 menu items!!!

12-16-09, 05:15 PM	#2
danwiz DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan Posts: 1,433	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet So, this is now coming to the US, eh! It's been this way in Japan for some time now, but unfortunately their wireless internet is sometimes only a tiny little wireless transmitter which requires you to stand right on the spot which says "free wireless here". I experienced this at one McDonald's here - could not move outside of about a 3 foot diameter circle or else the wireless disappeared. Pretty shoddy eh?! __________________ My DVD Collection (DVD Profiler) [removed link to site]

12-16-09, 06:58 PM	#3
TomOpus DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 23,335	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet First it was McCafe... now free wifi. McDonald's sure hates Starbucks. __________________ "Pear Pimples for Hairy Fishnuts!" My So-Called DVD Life (Profiler),A Fistful of Discs (DVDAf)

12-16-09, 08:14 PM	#4
Coral DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 5,610	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet Free wireless is exactly what McDonald's customers need - a reason to be sedentary for a longer period of time while eating fast food.

12-16-09, 08:30 PM	#5
cardsfan111 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 11,409	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet I'm glad to hear this news. I'll admit to using the pay service at a McDonald's once before, but I wasn't real happy about it. __________________ DVD/BD Spending Tab: 2010 2011 2012 2013 Rank 'Em As You See 'Em: 2010 2011 2012 2013 "i 'm new here. most of people in here are good. but there is a miserable person. Look into your mirror. Superboy!" --New Member, robert11

12-16-09, 08:47 PM	#6
BigDaddy DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 10,778	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet I noticed a wifi signal a few months ago at McDonald's. I could not get it to connect on my iPhone. I had no idea they charged for the service. Nice to have it free. __________________ Michael

12-16-09, 09:03 PM	#7
Groucho Moderator Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 62,429	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet Haven't they been offering this for years, sort of, for DS owners only? __________________ Xbox Live: Runner Groucho PSN: RunnerGroucho "The Borg is a species" -- Tracer Bullet (Citation)

12-16-09, 09:24 PM	#8
Ranger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 18,205	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet I think this is great news. Didn't know they offered it before for $2.95. Some of the newer McDs look really nice. Although, I wouldn't actually use it. I don't want any food or drinks near my precious electronics.

12-17-09, 12:34 AM	#9
RichC2 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 20,503	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet You know, I once pulled into a Krystal and saw a redneck guy in a wife beater playing World of Warcraft on his laptop using their free Wireless while munching on sliders and thought it was an interesting reflection on today's society. I think it would have been better if it were a McDs.

12-17-09, 09:03 AM	#10
Raul3 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Picture a cup in the middle of the sea Posts: 7,350	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet It was free for iPhone users too. __________________ Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Xbox Live: rsra13 PSN: rsra13

12-17-09, 11:05 AM	#11
Lateralus DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Valley of Megiddo Posts: 9,321	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet The two McDonalds by my office have had free Internet access for at least the past year. They have big signs out front stating that it is "Free Interent access" __________________ (Lat's book lists)

12-17-09, 11:07 AM	#12
Trevor DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: somewhere shopping Posts: 21,840	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet I hope it's not one of those where you have to create an account. __________________ forum helps: search - reviews - Challenge Compendium - DVD "upgrades" missing features from original release - DVDTalk Facebook - OCD/Storage/Organization - BD Digibook Thread - Free Daily Android App - All Gift Card Deals Personal: PMs are the anitchrist, just email me. Holiday'12 - Comedy '12 My Countdown Counting down to: The 2nd Annual DVDTalk Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge The 2nd Annual DVDTalk Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery Challenge has started!

12-17-09, 11:07 AM	#13
dogmatica DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,217	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet McDonald's in my area has had wifi for a while now. __________________ PSN: Spatula _ City \| Just because it's the Internet doesn't mean we can't choose kindness.

12-17-09, 12:46 PM	#14
mike07 Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,683	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet My local McDonald's has had WiFi access for awhile now, but not for free. If they were smart they'd include free WiFi codes on their food items (say one of those scratch tickets on the large fry container or something nutty like that).

12-18-09, 05:50 PM	#15
palebluedot DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,447	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet Strange, I thought the US had this. We have had free wireless in McDonalds here in Australia for quite a long time now. Do they not have McCafe in the US though? McCafe is the only reason I go to McDonalds, good coffee.

12-18-09, 06:57 PM	#16
ScissorPuppy DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,183	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet This something I always wondered about. If someone connects to the internet via a wi-fi connection from McDonalds or somewhere else (Library, Coffee shop etc.) and they download something illegal like a song or dvd- Aren't these companies putting themselves at legal risk? Or is there a law that states the companies would not be at fault? Then I guess they would have to track down the person who did the downloading, but that might be hard, right? Just wondering, and before anyone accuses, no I am not interested in using Micky Dees to download anything, I'm just assuming someone will try. __________________ " We all go alittle mad sometimes" Norman Bates 1960

12-18-09, 10:04 PM	#18
Ranger DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 18,205	Re: McDonald's to Offer Free Wireless Internet I hope they also have a user download speed cap like 1 mbps.