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Tue, 30 Jun 2009 O2 extends Wi-Fi hotspots, signs deal with BT Openzone, iPhone users to benefit

O2 adds 3000 BT Openzone WiFi hotspots to its network

Oliver Garnham PC Advisor

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O2 mobile broadband customers can now connect to the Internet at an additional 3,000 Wi-Fi hotspots following a new partnership with BT Openzone.

Those who subscribe to O2's mobile broadband service can now log on to all BT Openzone hotspots across the UK as well as 5,000 hotspots operated by The Cloud. BT Openzone is behind the public Wi-Fi networks in a range of hotels, airports and coffee shops, including Starbucks.

O2 has also announced an update to Connection Manager, the application mobile broadband subscribers use to connect to the web.

The tool now allows people to copy their laptop's existing Wi-Fi profiles during the software installation process. Also new is a data counter that allows customers to keep track of the amount of data they've downloaded, with notifications alerting them when they've reached 75 percent, 90 percent and 100 percent of their allowance.

Most customers have already received the Connection Manager upgrade. However, O2 said new customers will only get the new version of the software - and access to the additional BT Openzone hotspots - at the end of July.

BT Openzone also recently announced it is working with Cashbox - the supplier of ATM machines in the UK - to turn cash machines into Wi-Fi hotspots.

Cashbox named a number of its 2,500 sites across the UK that would become Wi-Fi hotspots, including ATMs located in the Tiger Tiger chain of bars, as well as a number of other London-based pubs and restaurants.

BT broadband customers with inclusive Wi-Fi minutes and O2 iPhone users will be among those that can use the Wi-Fit hotspots for free.

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Comments received


JOsh said on Tue, 30 Jun 2009

Er how will iPhone users benefit?

We have always had access to The Cloud and BTopenzone.

The article appears to be include iPhone in order to boost SEO rankings!

Stefano said on Tue, 30 Jun 2009

I agree, no upshot for iPhone

Mark said on Tue, 30 Jun 2009

Actually it seems to me that an increase in traffic on BTOpenzone would be detrimental to iPhone users.

Rowley said on Tue, 30 Jun 2009

The more hotspots the better - but is a benefit to all wifi users, not just iphone.

James said on Tue, 30 Jun 2009

Presumably this will benefit iPhone users who have the tethering bolt-on.

Those of us who pay for tethering currently get unlimited (laptop) use of Cloud hotspots and o2.co.uk/iphone site says BTOpenzone is 'coming soon'.

Paul said on Tue, 30 Jun 2009

O2 used to have this same agreement with BT OpenZone. But it was suspended/cancelled a year or so ago. It looks like they have just set up another agreement.

Neil said on Tue, 30 Jun 2009

Does this also apply to Apple Mac users? People using an Apple Mac use software called Mobile Connect which is spectacularly rubbish. AFAIK it's only PC users who use Connection Manager. Can someone verify?

jtbm said on Wed, 01 Jul 2009

Quoted on o2.co.uk :
"BT Openzone is the name of the Wi-Fi network allowing users to connect to the internet wirelessly. Wi-Fi is a different type of network allowing you to connect to the internet wirelessly. Wi-Fi is generally the fastest network that you can connect to over Mobile Broadband.

Customers using a Mac cannot currently connect to BT Openzone but we're working on a solution. Look out for updates on this website."

So no, mac users can't connect to BT openzone.

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