AfterDawn: News

McDonald's to offer free Wi-Fi

Beginning next month, McDonald's will start offering free Wi-Fi in 11,000 of its American locations.

The deal, signed with AT&T, is very similar to that of Starbucks, where users can access the Internet for free, no purchase required. Previously, the Wi-Fi was only free for AT&T customers, and $2.95 for two-hours otherwise.



McDonald's says internal research found that customers would be more willing to buy more food if they had free Wi-Fi.

"We're excited about it. One thing our customers have told us is: 'We like your Wi-Fi, but would you make it free?' This is one thing they've consistently asked for. It's just another reason to come to McDonald's," said David Groom, chief information officer for McDonald's USA.

The financial details were not revealed so it is unclear how AT&T will make any money for offering their network.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Dec 2009 20:40

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• 12 comments

• ChiknLitl

  McD's has had free wi-fi in select locations in the US for at least 1.5 years now. ---Chikn

  16.12.2009 20:51 #1

• dragnandy

  back when the original Nintendo DS came out, many McDonalds offered free hotspots. This lasted quite awhile too

  16.12.2009 21:05 #2

• cyprusrom

  Wasn't available in my are(not sure if will still be), but I think is a smart move. Culvers, has had free wi-fi here for a couple good years, and most times I chose to go there just for that...

  16.12.2009 21:20 #3

• tucker001

  yes i can get on facebook while im at work now !

  16.12.2009 22:09 #4

• tatsh

  how long does anyone stay at McDonald's? and why in the hell would you bring your laptop? i understand a phone that can utilise wifi, but I have seen people bring their laptop to Starbucks and stay there for at least an hour, doing what?! They certainly are not improving their 'social lives' by going on Facebook at Starbucks or anywhere else with public wifi. The other concern for public wifi is security. This part of it REALLY needs to be solved. There are some software solutions but there should be an all-around solution.

  17.12.2009 03:13 #5

• steve1711

  Mc Donalds have free wifi in UK and Europe - use it all the time. I always look for Mc Donalds so I can use Skype to phone home - and they have far cheaper coffee than Starbooks.

  17.12.2009 04:11 #6

• KSib

  Uh... this is new? It was free here before where I live anyway. Weird. Also, I can't imagine wanting to bring my laptop to a McDonalds ever though. Maybe like a nice coffee shop or something, but not a Mickey D's

  17.12.2009 06:03 #7

• navi1199

  I live in New York, and I never had to pay to use Wifi in any of the Mc Donalds i ever went to o.O I just connected to the network and that was it... in fact they fully advertise that they have free Wifi... Well it also might be cause I live in the city, and it's not free everywhere, but in a year or two I can see all the businesses giving free net... They have really slow internet to begin with, slower than the average home user, and anyone here who used starbuck's free net knows what am talking about. But it's alright for surfing the web, I don't many people who bothers taking their laptops to starbucks just to torrent

  17.12.2009 08:15 #8

• ChiefBrdy

  I don't know. Somehow I just can't picture sitting there in those little plastic chairs, surfing the net while kids are screaming and 300lb cows are wolfing down Big Macs.
  
  On the upside, it's cheaper than Starbucks.

  17.12.2009 20:21 #9

• borhan9

  This feature should be done worldwide i want to see more stores in Australia to have this feature.

  17.12.2009 21:11 #10

• riggarob

  We're in our motor home 5 -6 months/year. It's good for us to know about places w/free wi-fi. Last time I was in Zephyrhills, FL, you had to pay to get it. Free is good !

  17.12.2009 22:06 #11

• tucker001

  Quote:how long does anyone stay at McDonald's? and why in the hell would you bring your laptop? i understand a phone that can utilise wifi, but I have seen people bring their laptop to Starbucks and stay there for at least an hour, doing what?! They certainly are not improving their 'social lives' by going on Facebook at Starbucks or anywhere else with public wifi. The other concern for public wifi is security. This part of it REALLY needs to be solved. There are some software solutions but there should be an all-around solution.I would use to wifi on my ipod touch if we were slow, or drive thru was backed up when im on back register.

  17.12.2009 22:08 #12