Reluctant to update your PSP to the latest firmware? You may want to reconsider. The latest firmware offers PSP users the ability to access T-Mobile's wi-fi service for free. T-Mobile HotSpots can be found at over 8,000 locations across the US, and can be found in Starbucks, Borders, FedEx Kinko's, Hyatt, Red Roof Inns, Sofitel and Novotel Hotels, and select airports. Now, you'll be able to frag friends through Infrastructure almost anywhere in the US ... for free! How sweet is that?
I went to a Starbucks to test it out, and found the process is quite easy:
- Bring your PSP® system to a location that provides a T-Mobile HotSpot. (Refer to the T-Mobile HotSpot U.S. Location Map.)
- Select
(Network Settings) under 
(Settings). - Select [Infrastructure Mode].
- Select [New Connection].
- Select [Use Wireless Hotspot].
- Select the T-Mobile HotSpot icon.
- If you have an existing T-Mobile HotSpot account, select [Enter User Credentials].
Enter your user ID and password, and then press the right button.
or
If you do not have an account, select [Use Promotional Access] to sign up for a complimentary six-month T-Mobile HotSpot account. (To qualify for this promotional access, you must authenticate your PSP® system to the T-Mobile HotSpot network prior to March 28, 2008.) - Check the contents of the settings list.
- Save the settings.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-29-2007 @ 1:46PM
Alien said...
Awesome , to bad its not present here in the Eu :(
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3-29-2007 @ 2:26PM
Colin said...
More good PSP news...this parallels what Sony was doing with the MYLO (where has THAT gone?) doesn't it?
(Now goes and dreams that mylo is being dropped in favour of PSP2 with keyboard)
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3-29-2007 @ 2:45PM
pixelator said...
This is good news. Now give us an effing keyboard add-on!
One thing Sony is amazingly good at - stroking their customers with one hand and picking their pocket with the other.
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3-29-2007 @ 2:49PM
Ralph said...
8000 locations across the US is a ridiculously small number. So hardly and PSP owners will be able to use it in the US. Well, We don't have access at all in Canada so we are left in the dark.
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3-29-2007 @ 3:13PM
devi8i said...
Well, Ralph, I don't see 8000 as being small by any means and considering i fly through Memphis, Atlanta, Houston, and St. Louis on a very regular basis this is very good news. I don't have to pay a daily rate to use their wireless anymore. And I can get up to date on the internet and play games from my very trustworthy psp..... whooo hooooo!!!!
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3-29-2007 @ 3:14PM
Colin said...
@Ralph...
But we get our PSP cheaper here so...
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3-29-2007 @ 3:24PM
pixelator said...
8000 is a 'ridiculously small' number..? There's a Starbucks on almost every frigging street corner in the USA (unless you live in nowheresville). Not that you'd know that, living in Canada.
The real shortcoming here is that it's just a 6 month PROMOTIONAL access account. That means that when the trial period is over, pay up or no access. Like so many Sony and other recent 'cool new features' (like cell phone videos and similar subscription ripoffs) it's just another limited 'feature' that cons you into paying.
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3-29-2007 @ 3:58PM
G Lampa said...
It's still 6 months free.
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3-29-2007 @ 4:24PM
G Lampa said...
8000 locations is an AVERAGE of 160 locations per STATE. OVER 8000 locations means OVER 160 per state (on average. I don't consider that "ridiculously small". I'm not sure how many Starbucks there are in the US, but most of 'em have the Hotspot, and I see a Starbucks EVERYWHERE I LOOK.
OK, so Wyoming has a few less... NY has a lot more. Good for me!
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3-29-2007 @ 5:00PM
navsimpson said...
No, us stupid Canadians are cursed with a Starbucks on every corner too. But yeah, it would be nice if Sony made a deal with a Canadian hotspot company.
And what's with the complaining about six months of free wi-fi?! What would the alternative be - buy a PSP and get a lifetime of free wifi access? Or? Seems perfectly reasonable to me...
Still - it seems like different departments in Sony are never clear on what other units are doing. Isn't it weird that they would slide this out would no advertising - are only uber-geeks who read sites like this privy to the information? Or that Media Manager wouldn't be updated to include the new video resolutions? C'mon Sony - you're almost on a bit of roll. It's not time to be slacking off...
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3-29-2007 @ 5:04PM
merc25 said...
^Try living in the south I've only seen ~3 Starbucks.
8,000 is a very small number and compounding that is the fact that most of these spots are in the same large cities.
Most of Tennessee is largely unserviced by this T-mobile HotSpot crap. I'll go back to leeching unprotected Wifi connections.
"Reluctant to update your PSP to the latest firmware?" YES.
"You may want to reconsider." Nah, if anything this will be tipping point for me to go OE.
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3-29-2007 @ 5:20PM
God of War is the ONLY GOW said...
Is there ANY one time purchase product out there that gives you access to wifi for free forever? Thought not.
If you don't live near a Tmobile spot...that sucks, but its not like Sony is taking away something from you, you still have the great handhelp machine you always have had.
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3-29-2007 @ 7:45PM
Sam K said...
"The real shortcoming here is that it's just a 6 month PROMOTIONAL access account. That means that when the trial period is over, pay up or no access. Like so many Sony and other recent 'cool new features' (like cell phone videos and similar subscription ripoffs) it's just another limited 'feature' that cons you into paying."
Wow. Talk about nuts. Some people will complain about anything...even when it's given to them for free. You're really a "glass is half empty" kinda guy, aren't you?
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3-29-2007 @ 7:57PM
TwoLOUD said...
Thats a good thing. But Im not a person to sit in a Starfucks just for wifi. Theres tons of Starfucks and Tmobile stores around here but prolly wont benifit much from this anyways but it is good news. Even if for only a short time.
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3-29-2007 @ 8:51PM
deadlock32 said...
YES THERE IS A PRODUCT THAT OFFERS FREE WIFI
The nintendo DS offers 100% free wifi at all McDonalds locations with wayport access.
I thought this was sony one uping them with t-mobile which would have been a good move but @ six months the casual gamer may only play like 20 games total needing to leave the house for wifi from tmobile.
I guess i'll stick to home wifi or if I am traveling and dark alex cracks this i'll activate it.
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3-29-2007 @ 9:38PM
Johnny Lasley said...
I thought wifi was free in most of those places...
Never will use them. I use (leech) wifi connections at friends and at work.
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3-29-2007 @ 10:13PM
jugglebutt said...
(To qualify for this promotional access, you must authenticate your PSP® system to the T-Mobile HotSpot network prior to March 28, 2008.) March 28, 2008. March 28, 2008. What the hell, it's the 29th now.
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3-29-2007 @ 11:06PM
sullyj said...
"it's the 29th now" yeah, 2007
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3-30-2007 @ 12:23AM
theMediaman said...
Sweet. I hope this "Wireless Hotspot" will work with other companies if you already have an account. There's free WiFi in downtown Toronto. Always irritating when a hotspot needs you to log into a webpage.
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3-30-2007 @ 2:35AM
robby1051 said...
@navsimpson:
Not just the Uber geeks like us,
but the moderates too!
I just got email from playstation undergroud telling about the free wifi
so thats pretty cool
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