Verizon Mulling WiFi "Marketing Stunt"

May 1, 2009 at 4:33 pm PT

We consider cable’s local WiFi initiatives to be nothing more than a marketing stunt.

–Verizon spokesperson Rich Young, Feb. 28, 2009

Looks like AT&T (T) and Cablevision’s decision to offer free WiFi to their subscribers has gotten a competitive rise out of Verizon (VZ), which just a few months ago was dismissing such efforts as “marketing stunts.” The Wall Street Journal reports that Verizon plans to offer its subscribers free Wi-Fi hotspot access via a partnership with Boingo Wireless. Discussions between the two companies are still progressing, but a deal is expected sometime soon with service debuting this summer — perhaps in preparation for the launch of that media tablet Verizon’s rumored to be talking to Apple (AAPL) about.

Tagged with: AAPL, AT&T, Cablevision, Internet, John Paczkowski, telecom, Verizon, VZ, WiFi

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http://blog.macb.net Mac Beach

Talk about catch-22… I’m a few hundred feet from a hot-spot, in fact they interfere with my own wifi network sometimes. I’ll now be able to use it for “free”, if I keep my DSL service.

If this goes through though I mostly certainly will be carrying a wifi device with me around the city.