A closely guarded secret from Orange (UK) is that for all current users on an existing Panther contract now get free access to the BT Openzone wifi connections usually found in places like McDonalds, Starbucks etc etc.
This is a new feature for those signing up to a new Dolphin/Panther contract but I spotted it on their website and rang up and said, how come I can't have it on my existing contract, to be told that i can.... !
When asked for your username to log on, its your mobile number and the password will be the one you use for your Orange account.
I can't verify whether pay as you go customers get the same deal as I don't have that kind of package.
I have tried it and it does work....
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I was in a local fast food place last week (not well known like McDonalds) and my Desire picked up a free BT WiFi connection. Hard to say if it was public or just a private router with no security, but it made the wait for chicken a bit more entertaining
(BTW, I'm on Orange)
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that the info i found on there web site
Extend your network coverage and get faster access to the mobile internet in more places by browsing on WiFi, whether you’re on your mobile or device (e.g. iPad), at home or on the move.
WiFi can be accessed from your mobile or device:
privatelyat home, through your home broadband devices
publicly whilst on the move, in “hotspots” which are usually located within train stations, cafés etc.
If you turn on WiFi in your phone or device’s network settings, a list of available WiFi networks will appear which you can connect to.
Some WiFi networks will be free and unlocked whereas others may be locked because they require you to pay a small charge – you’ll need to get a password from the provider to be able to access these WiFi networks.
To access inclusive Orange WiFi (via BT Openzone’s hotspots*), you’ll need to have an inclusive WiFi tariff or have bought a WiFi bundle.
* BT FON hotspots can appear as BT Openzone hotspots in your list of WiFi networks – these are not included within Orange WiFi at the moment. We recommend that you download the Orange WiFi app from Apple’s App Store or use the Orange hotspots finder tool to locate applicable Orange WiFi hotspots.
Useful tip. Going to try this out next time I've got a chance. I'm on dolphin, so if anybody has already tried it - does it work? Do you need to phone them to activate it?
I love the Desire and how good it is finding wifi networks compared to my old iPhone 3G.
Often I am out and about and it'll pick up an unsecured network
It all feels a bit illicit and naughty as I don't know if they are free wifi or just personal ones that are unsecured
Either way won't be doing anything naughty with it and if it's a personal network it's their job to secure it not mine to find out if it's free wifi or not.
Useful tip. Going to try this out next time I've got a chance. I'm on dolphin, so if anybody has already tried it - does it work? Do you need to phone them to activate it?
During my conversation with the Orange rep he said that there was nothing I had to do to activate this feature, my contract type (Panther) allows its use automatically.... this proved correct as when I told my mates at work on the same contract they were able to access BT Openzone straight away, using log on details as mentioned before.
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i cant get mine to work.. i gigned up for my package about 12 months ago though so even though mine does include it i think i dont have it because i signed up wheen that was not included...
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i cant get mine to work.. i gigned up for my package about 12 months ago though so even though mine does include it i think i dont have it because i signed up wheen that was not included...
I too signed up for mine 12 months ago, when you also got inclusive use of Orange maps as part of the deal, for those of us on that deal you keep the maps AND get the Openzone freebie....!
Double check you have entered your mobile number, with the 0 instead of +44 in front and that you are trying to log in to an Openzone wifi and not a BT FON as that is different...
Last edited by firedesire; May 4th, 2011 at 10:28 AM.
Reason: typo..
I love the Desire and how good it is finding wifi networks compared to my old iPhone 3G.
Often I am out and about and it'll pick up an unsecured network
It all feels a bit illicit and naughty as I don't know if they are free wifi or just personal ones that are unsecured
Either way won't be doing anything naughty with it and if it's a personal network it's their job to secure it not mine to find out if it's free wifi or not.
This may be a silly question, but can somebody find out if you use their (unsecured) wifi connection?
When Im at home and I scan for wifi my phone picks up an unsecured connection (presumably one of my neighbours')...if I use it, is there any way they can find out and/or trace it back to me? Obviously wouldn't be doing anything naughty, just normal browsing.
They'll be able to see your mac address and the IP address their router would have very kindly provided for you
Chances are though if they are technophobe/ stupid enough to leave their network unsecured they wouldn't have the first clue that you were there anyway let alone how to find you
Oh and for the record officer
I don't connect to any of my neighbours wifi networks because they are all BT and Sky which come secured out of the box.
This may be a silly question, but can somebody find out if you use their (unsecured) wifi connection?
When Im at home and I scan for wifi my phone picks up an unsecured connection (presumably one of my neighbours')...if I use it, is there any way they can find out and/or trace it back to me? Obviously wouldn't be doing anything naughty, just normal browsing.
just be careful as this is illegal even if they cannot be bothered to secure there connection.
I nipped down to a local Starbucks to give this a whirl on a 2010 Panther contract phone.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get it to work.
To those posters who were able to get it to work, is it still working?
On the hotpot login page, there were a number of provider options that could be picked - I chose Orange UK. Is this correct?
With respect to the password needed, is it the Orange customer service password or the one used to access 'Your Account' on the Orange website?
Out of curiosity, I phoned customer services after I failed to logon and enquired about the openzone access. At which point I was told that I had a 2010 Panther contract and that I would have to pay £2/month to get the openzone access. This doesn't seem too bad a price to pay, but if I can get it for free anyway, I just wanted to be sure what others have experienced.
I've been on Panther since July last year and have used Openzone a fair amount. It is supposedly unlimited, but I seem to remember there is a 'fair use' clause.
Incidentally, my WiFi password is not the same as my account password. You can view/change it in the Help & Support section of your account. It is sent to you by SMS.
I've just had a quick scan of Orange T & C 's. There is a 3GB/month fair use applied to the £2 WiFi bundle, so I assume the same will apply to the within plan option.
Last edited by tommo47; February 6th, 2012 at 03:06 AM.
Reason: Additional info
Incidentally, my WiFi password is not the same as my account password. You can view/change it in the Help & Support section of your account. It is sent to you by SMS.
Just tried to view it in 'Your account' but got the mother of all error messages. Typical! Error page exception
The server cannot use the error page specified for your application to handle the Original Exception printed below. Please see the Error Page Exception below for a description of the problem with the specified error page.
Original Exception: [300 lines of gobbledegook. . .]
Yes, I don't understand why but since they changed the format of the 'Your Account' pages I keep having difficulties logging in, especially using my laptop. I can usually log in first time using my Desire S and lately find it even more reliable to go in to My Account via my linked Orange webmail.
I've just logged on successfully a few times after first getting the error message - it is certainly not as robust as it used to be but I don't see any point in raising it with Orange - unless you can take a battery out they seem to have great difficulty in dealing with anything!!!!
Free access to BT Openzone on Orange...
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