While AT&T has teased some by leaking free hotspot offers for iPhone owners, then pulling them down, it’s the Zune which has first achieved free wi-fi access at McDonald’s. On Tuesday Wayport and Microsoft announced a deal whereby Zune owners will gain free access to Wayport hotspots at over 9,800 participating McDonald’s restaurants nationwide.
AT&T relies on Wayport to operate the AT&T-branded hotspot network.
In a press release, Dan Lowden, vice president of business development and marketing for Wayport said:
“Wayport is pleased to be working with Microsoft to make it easier for Zune users to access music on the go. Our ability to enable and manage applications and devices over converged networks creates exciting new opportunities for our clients to attract new customers whose digital lifestyle extends beyond their home and office.”
While this is a nice deal, the benefits are lessened by the fact that unlike the iPod Touch and iPhone, the Zune does not have a web browser. However, with the new software that was just released, new Zunes and old can use wi-fi to browse Zune Marketplace, and make purchases, so it’s something (anyone for a browser in 4.0 software?).
The fact that the Zune does not have a browser also meant that the deal with McDonald’s was more important to Microsoft: with no browser, any hotspot with a “browser interrupt webpage” (whereby a user must agree to a EULA) can’t be connected to with a Zune.
At the same time, it’s somewhat embarrassing for both AT&T and Apple, who seem to want to have iPhone and iPod Touch access to free wi-fi at AT&T hotspots, but seem to not be able (at least until now) to figure out how to truly limit it to those devices alone.
And at the same time, McDonald’s can hope Zune users will stick around at their restaurants longer, getting “extra value” … and perhaps extra meals.
