Where can you find free wi-fi access in Manchester city centre?
While Manchester City Council gets its act together with its free city-wide wireless access idea, and because I’ve got a new wi-fi-ready laptop, I thought it was about time we put together a guide to wireless hotspots in the city centre.
To that end, I’ve set up a new Google Maps mashup on CommunityWalk. The last one – tracking the infamous Sabi Rock man – is going from strength to strength, with over 2,000 views and a steady stream of sightings, so why not?
Here’s the deal: if you find or even hear about somewhere in Manchester city centre (or in the suburbs) with unprotected wireless access, please leave a comment on the map. I’ll then add its location for everyone to view and use.
Oh, and because I know paying wifi access is commonplace too: if you spot somewhere like Cornerhouse, that offers wi-fi for a fee, please add it too.
And please share the map’s url (http://www.communitywalk.com/map/70522) on your own site.
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Great idea. By the way you can track the progress of Manchester’s ‘Digital Challenge’ (which includes free city-wide wi-fi access)on the Digital Development Agency’s website: http://www.manchesterdda.com/digitalchallenge/97/
By Steve Connor on 02.22.07 9:41 am
dont they say south manchester will have 100% coverage of free wireless internet for all by 2008?
By scott on 02.22.07 10:19 am
Scott: 90 percent coverage of the whole of Greater Manchester, with a pilot scheme launched by this summer:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk...
Steve: Thanks a lot. I plan to write about the challenge soon. If you’ve got any interesting information, please let me know.
By Mancubist on 02.22.07 10:46 am
Cornerhouse doesn’t charge. You just ask at the bar what the password is – they change it every month or two.
By Paul Robinson on 02.22.07 1:54 pm
I heard it was free but so many people were using it without buying anything that they started charging. Last time a friend of mine tried (in January) their staff didn’t mention any password. But that’s great news if true.
By Mancubist on 02.22.07 2:01 pm
The Circle (Barton Square just off St Ann’s) has an open hotspot; not sure whether it reaches outside the building or could be classed as “free”, though.
By Mr X on 02.24.07 3:35 pm
I’m a big fan of Suburb on Deansgate.
By Gary on 03.03.07 5:04 am
Didn’t Manchester fail in their attempt to get the city wifi covered ? , they kept it very quiet.
By Andy on 07.28.07 11:00 pm
Trof, Oklahoma (password), Kro Bar (Picadilly) – there’s a few you can pick up for free from inside the bar on the stools by the window, Cornerhouse (password). I feel I must repay these guys for providing free internet access while I sipped soda water and browsed for jobs. Tough times. These bars helped me into employment – apart from Oklahoma, which is a recent and fantastic discovery – and are great places too. Thank you. I have a job and can buy coffee and even alcohol. Woo Hoo.
By Emma Cooney on 09.30.07 7:35 pm
there isnt much for free in manchester. their libraries are so archaic and backwards that they dont even have wifi. i am used to most libraries having free wifi because i come from the technologically advanced usa, where even a hillbilly hick town where joe dirt is from will have wifi. i kid you not. i travel alot and i passed through towns with 100 people that had free wifi at the lib. it isnt that hard to get a router hooked up. it was simple, and free. they used the kind of routers that you can buy at currys. the connection, from what i saw, was better than bt open zone. i didnt know britain was that backward.
By VEF on 07.09.08 2:46 am
The Font Bar on Oxford Road has free wireless internet.
By nadia on 07.10.08 2:08 pm
Awesome stuff – thanks for this. If I find stuff to add, I will. Hopefully the libraries will be up to speed soon enough.
By drs1 on 04.23.09 4:47 pm
All the McDonalds now have free wifi.. you just follow link through ‘The Cloud’ provider
By Brian Tate on 06.21.09 3:00 pm
Ape::Tracks » Irregular Brachiation » Free wifi in Manchester city centre
[...] Mancubist has created a Google Maps page listing other free wifi providers in Manchester city centre [...]
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