Free BT WiFi, not a BT Broadband customer

Today I received an email apparently from BT, containing

Simple to stay connected
It's now even easier for you to stay connected on the go for free with unlimited BT Wi-fi. This is great news, as it means you won't have to use your data allowance when you're out and about.
Setting up a wireless connection on your smartphone, laptop or tablet is a doddle - anyone can do it. Just follow either link below and you'll be on BT Wi-fi in no time.

There are then two links, one for if I will be using tablet or smartphone, and one for laptops. There are three other links for various things. All five start www.bt.com/ which looks OK to me.

I have a BT landline but PlusNet FTTC.

Anybody know anything about this?

Edited by RobertoS (Fri 01-Nov-13 19:59:52)

Are the links genuine?

My Vodafone mobile a/c gives some access to BT Wi-Fi. It would be more useful if it was available at Gatwick Airport.

How do I know without clicking them . But I have checked them in the status bar by hovering the cursor over them, and also examined them in the email Source. Starting the way they do, see my OP, I'm not aware of any way they could go anywhere but BT.

The email address it has been sent to is one I issued only to BT.

Standard email sent to all BT customers with email address on file
If you have BT Broadband can get free access to broadband anywhere there is a BT Hotspot or, where a user has Home Hub 4 ( Unsecured separate WiFi channel on each HH.)
Customers with BT Phone can download App onto mobile and use their unlimited minutes via Wifi or Mobile Internet channel.. Probably only useful for those with Phone and Broadband.

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

Are the links genuine?

My Vodafone mobile a/c gives some access to BT Wi-Fi. It would be more useful if it was available at Gatwick Airport.

Don't blame BT but blame the airports. They have their "chosen" WiFi providers who pay a fortune. If a retailer or bar makes WiFi available, such as a BT hotspot they are clamped down on.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Don't blame BT but blame the airports. They have their "chosen" WiFi providers who pay a fortune. If a retailer or bar makes WiFi available, such as a BT hotspot they are clamped down on.

Job for the CAA then. It is a pity that it is harder to avoid airports than hotels that don't offer free WiFi.

In reply to a post by flippery:

Standard email sent to all BT customers with email address on file

Do you know this, or just guessing? You are probably right, but that is idiotic. Also the first such I've ever received, after many years. Why has no-one yet said they have received one as well?

If you have BT Broadband can get free access to broadband anywhere there is a BT Hotspot or, where a user has Home Hub 4 ( Unsecured separate WiFi channel on each HH.)

I know, except it doesn't need to be a HH4 as long as they sign up to the system. That's why my email is odd.

Customers with BT Phone can download App onto mobile and use their unlimited minutes via Wifi or Mobile Internet channel.. Probably only useful for those with Phone and Broadband.

Again, I know, but no "probably" about it until this email.

In reply to a post by flippery:

Standard email sent to all BT customers with email address on file

How standard? Do you know this for a fact? I haven't received it as a BT Phone cust just like RobertoS.

Seeing as at the moment I haven't got a decent IS system running on this machine, just Windows Defender and Windows Firewall, I'm not risking clicking a link. But I've tried searching the BT website and no suggestion of anything without BT Broadband.

Roberto

https://my.btwifi.com/selfcare/purchase/chooseProduc...

From bt.com searched on wifi but not easy to find.

£6 pcm for 500min /month and a 12 month contract, so if you want it getting BT broadband seems the cheapest way ( then it's free). Just another hook to make BT Broadband a better choice (but quite a nice one)

Thanks, but I already use the PAYG version . (Well, once at the beginning of October I signed up and bought 5 days). The point is that the email says "Free".

It did occur to me that it may be some offer because of that purchase. However the email address this arrived to is not the one that I used to sign up for the PAYG. It is the one I used in September to order Call Diversion.

I recently went on holiday to Malta. As you say, there is no free wireless hotspots at Gatwick (pay ones do exist).

Coming back, there is FREE wireless access at Malta airport.

I think that says a lot.

Nick

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

It is the one I used in September to order Call Diversion.

Is that the same as the one you use for your MyBT a/c, which I presume you have?

Just out of interest, ages ago when setting up, my scanner shows 'open' BT wireless hotspots, but I cannot connect to them - the first 4 show no encryption and are flagged as 'open':

|BTWiFi 02:AC:54:DD:21:7A 53%, -73 dBm, ch 11, 2462 MHz │
│BTWiFi-with-FON 12:AC:54:DD:21:7A 50%, -75 dBm, ch 11, 2462 MHz │
│BTWiFi 02:01:3B:97:8B:82 41%, -81 dBm, ch 6, 2437 MHz │
│BTWiFi-with-FON 12:01:3B:97:8B:82 39%, -83 dBm, ch 6, 2437 MHz │
│dlink 1C:BD:B9:AA:63:56 83%, -52 dBm, ch 1, 2412 MHz │
│BTHub3-GWKH 00:AC:54:DD:21:7A 53%, -73 dBm, ch 11, 2462 MHz, WPA/WPA2 │
│virginmedia0151728 20:E5:2A:FB:6F:82 43%, -80 dBm, ch 6, 2437 MHz, WPA/WPA2 │
│SKY4633E C8:CD:72:A4:63:3F 43%, -80 dBm, ch 6, 2437 MHz, WPA/WPA2 │
│virginmedia2946638 84:1B:5E:AC:5D:FB 41%, -81 dBm, ch 1, 2412 MHz, WPA/WPA2 │
│jumpingpig 1C:AF:F7:45:B8:22 37%, -84 dBm, ch 1, 2412 MHz, WPA/WPA2 │
│BTHub3-JSWM 00:01:3B:97:8B:82 37%, -84 dBm, ch 6, 2437 MHz, WPA/WPA2 │
│VM557706-2G 9C:D3:6D:61:54:68 34%, -86 dBm, ch 1, 2412 MHz, WPA/WPA2 │
│TALKTALK-CAA240 4C:8B:EF:CA:A2:48 31%, -88 dBm, ch 11, 2462 MHz, WPA/WPA2 │

Nick

Not keen on the tracking; no use of any BT domain (possibly some marketing agent), but the email seems pukka; the main links redirect into http://www.btwifi.co.uk .

EDIT: Whois says the Received From domain, AdiDom.com, belongs to BT, sent via SMTP at MiSp.co.uk, UK Webhosting Ltd.

However I don't see that it really applies to you, or me. It's only useful for BT BB or BT Openzone Subscription or Voucher custs. Maybe it's cuz you once bought 1 of these vouchers but as you say the email addy does not tally.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Sat 02-Nov-13 00:47:21)

Not a CAA issue. The airport owners can bar or permit whatever activities that want on their land. No defending them - just pointing out what the can legally do.

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

It is the one I used in September to order Call Diversion.

Is that the same as the one you use for your MyBT a/c, which I presume you have?

No. The sign-on for that is a completely different type of username. The one used for this was unique to the Call Diversion order.

. I didn't think of checking domains dammit! That's usually the first thing I do. The misp.co.uk/UK Webhosting Ltd is Tsohost, my mail host. "147.149.33.75" is also BT registered.

Later on I shall click a link and find out if the free wifi is true or a maillist mistake.

Thanks to all contributing. I'll report back.

Edited by RobertoS (Sat 02-Nov-13 12:13:18)

If you want Free WiFi throughout the world just buy a Fon router.

In reply to a post by Stevenage_Neil:

If you want Free WiFi throughout the world just buy a Fon router.

In theory. I had a Fon router. I never got access to any of the BT Fon hotspots.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

No. The sign-on for that is a completely different type of username.

I didn't mean its sign-on but the email addy registered in your MyBT Profile?

EDIT: I only checked the Whois's after the event . You're welcome!

Edited by XRaySpeX (Sat 02-Nov-13 13:23:15)

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

In reply to a post by Stevenage_Neil:

If you want Free WiFi throughout the world just buy a Fon router.

In theory. I had a Fon router. I never got access to any of the BT Fon hotspots.

I have never had any problem. You are using the Fon sign In with your Fon User Name and password?

Nope. It's unique, deliberately. My bill notification does come to the one on MyBT.