Discussion
Has anyone else had this hijack their phone/internet connection? I took my HTC Hero out of my pocket last week and went to the browser to refresh the last page I had left open - and it went to the BTfon home page where they try and get you to sign up for "free" access (which still somehow requires you to buy useage). Went to my web history and selected other pages stored there...and all redirected to BTfon.
In the end I went into my wireless connections and found my phone connected to their network, God knows how. Disconnected and reconnected to my own and its been fine since. A quick google shows it seems to be legit but who in their right mind would sign up to something that hijacks your phone?!!
In the end I went into my wireless connections and found my phone connected to their network, God knows how. Disconnected and reconnected to my own and its been fine since. A quick google shows it seems to be legit but who in their right mind would sign up to something that hijacks your phone?!!
I can't comment on the HTC, but my iphone does this. The iphone data contract allows you to use BTOpenzone hotspots. In their infinite wisdom, BT have given all BTFon hotspots an identical SSID, so if your phone is configured to automatically connect to BTOpenzone hotspots, it will connect to BTFon ones too. The difference is that when you open a browser whilst connected to a BTFon hotspot, it will show you the landing page asking how you would like to pay for your session.
BT Fon uses the SSID 'BTFON', BT Openzone has the SSID 'BTOpenzone' so I doubt that's the case. I also doubt the iPhone comes pre-configured to connect to either.
The iPhone does have a bug where it will fail to show the WiFi icon when connected to an unsecured network, so it will appear to still be using mobile data.
But there's no hijacking or dodgy business going on, BTFON is a different but perfectly legitimate service providing Internet access over WiFi for a small fee, or not if you operate a node on their service.
The iPhone does have a bug where it will fail to show the WiFi icon when connected to an unsecured network, so it will appear to still be using mobile data.
But there's no hijacking or dodgy business going on, BTFON is a different but perfectly legitimate service providing Internet access over WiFi for a small fee, or not if you operate a node on their service.
digitise said:
I can't comment on the HTC, but my iphone does this. The iphone data contract allows you to use BTOpenzone hotspots. In their infinite wisdom, BT have given all BTFon hotspots an identical SSID, so if your phone is configured to automatically connect to BTOpenzone hotspots, it will connect to BTFon ones too. The difference is that when you open a browser whilst connected to a BTFon hotspot, it will show you the landing page asking how you would like to pay for your session.
I don't have a mobile phone based contract, but do get BTOpenzone allowance through the BT phone account I use for my business. I can use the login for this to use BTFon wi-fi spots which can be very useful at times when I need free fast internet! When connected to it, until you login the BTFon homepage is what you see.Accelebrate said:
BT Fon uses the SSID 'BTFON', BT Openzone has the SSID 'BTOpenzone' so I doubt that's the case. I also doubt the iPhone comes pre-configured to connect to either.
Doubt all you like, but it happened to me twice last week.To prove I'm not mental:
http://wiki.fon.com/wiki/Connecting_to_a_BTOpenzon... FON wiki describing connecting through the BTOpenzone SSID
http://www.btfon.com/support/faqs (See the "Connecting to service" section)
http://forum.o2.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=24664&si... A discussion about iphone users automatically connecting to BTOpenzone SSIDs and finding themselves on a BTFON landing page
I believe you can connect to BTOpenzone hotspots as a Fon user and get given 'credit' for Openzone spots as a Fon member, although they are a different service to Fon and should display a different landing page. More of a single sign on system for two different services rather than them being interchangeable.
BTFON and BTOpenzone networks are often both broadcast from the same access points/HomeHubs so they are usually both available in residential areas. This is of course rather confusing, and basically two different services from the same company essentially offering the same thing, but that's often the BT way.
BTFON and BTOpenzone networks are often both broadcast from the same access points/HomeHubs so they are usually both available in residential areas. This is of course rather confusing, and basically two different services from the same company essentially offering the same thing, but that's often the BT way.
BT said:
Thank you for taking your time to contact BTFON.
We are aware of Iphone users automatically authenticating on the BTFON service as it also broadcasts a BT Openzone SSID. On the information I have been given this is not likely to change, the reason the home hubs broadcast two SSID’s BTFON and BT Openzone is because we have many roaming partners who can get access via the BTFON service, these customers would login to the BT Openzone SSID of the hub and then they would get the option to choose their service provider from the login page, they would then be charged at their roaming rates for using these hotspots. Roaming partners cannot login via the BTFON SSID.
The best indicator of knowing whether you are in a BTFON HS is when you go to – settings and then wifi and you have your list of wioeless nerworks you will see 3 SSID’s at a BTFON hotspot – BTFON – BT Openzone and BT homehub.
Ah. I take it back. Looks like Openzone users can connect through FON spots. But not as part of the O2 inclusive iPhone deal.We are aware of Iphone users automatically authenticating on the BTFON service as it also broadcasts a BT Openzone SSID. On the information I have been given this is not likely to change, the reason the home hubs broadcast two SSID’s BTFON and BT Openzone is because we have many roaming partners who can get access via the BTFON service, these customers would login to the BT Openzone SSID of the hub and then they would get the option to choose their service provider from the login page, they would then be charged at their roaming rates for using these hotspots. Roaming partners cannot login via the BTFON SSID.
The best indicator of knowing whether you are in a BTFON HS is when you go to – settings and then wifi and you have your list of wioeless nerworks you will see 3 SSID’s at a BTFON hotspot – BTFON – BT Openzone and BT homehub.
Accelebrate said:
Err... It doesn't hijack anything.
Nor should your phone connect to a BTFON network or any other wireless network without you telling it to. Are you sure you didn't accidentally tell it to when it popped up a list of available networks?
Absolutely not - the only wireless network on my phone is mine. I remember a BT Openzone network being listed on my phone too - something else I never connect to. Neither of them are there now, just my own home network again. Maybe my phone was picking up next door's wireless network, I don't know...Nor should your phone connect to a BTFON network or any other wireless network without you telling it to. Are you sure you didn't accidentally tell it to when it popped up a list of available networks?
Edited by Flip Martian on Monday 20th September 19:54
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