Worldwide wireless provider Boingo has just launched 349 new hotspots in Beijing, a move timed to coincide with the Olympics.

The full list of hotspots is here, though it currently only shows 329 places to jump online. You can use Boingo's new Aspirin promotion, but since these connections are overseas, you'll have to pay a "premium fee" to get online.

Presumably, the WiFi is still under the same restrictions as all internet access in China, so your mileage may vary. Earlier this year, we discussed some strategies for circumventing state control of the internet.

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· WiFi coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jon crel]]]> pbb 2008-08-12T17:15:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/31/131650/859

Wireless access provider Boingo already has a Twitter account, a Facebook page and a LinkedIn profile. So it's only natural that the company would start a blog--called "The Hotspot"--to further its web presence. Being an internet provider, Boingo might even have the smarts to keep it going and make it a worthwhile read.

CEO Dave Hagan penned the first post:

That's what this blog is all about: It's about the Boingo community sharing the highs and lows of life on the road. It's about finding a "hot spot" in your destination city, that cool hidden gem that fellow travelers can appreciate.

But even an internet savvy company may not be ready for brilliant comments like this:

First!

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· The Hotspot [Official Site]
· Southwest Airlines Is Taking Over the Internet [Jaunted]
· Virgin America Social Media Site Launched Via Second Social Media Site [Jaunted]
· Travel Blogs coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-07-31T13:30:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/15/3231/50833

Hip Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is suddenly promoting their Hop-On Hop-Off bus service, although this government-sponsored scheme actually launched more than a year ago. The tourist bus works a circuit past 40 major sightseeing spots and shopping malls, and on one RM38 ticket ($12) you can use it for 24 hours, while RM65 ($20) gets you 48 hours.

Sometimes these buses are a good value; sometimes you'd do a lot better just taking cheap public transport around a city. The jury's still out on the KL version, though something caught our eye on the website that we haven't been able to verify yet: They mention having WiFi on board their buses.

If it's free and fast, then we're all for the KL Hop-On Hop-Off, except that we might do more hopping on than off to catch up on all our emails while we see the sights.

Related Stories:
· KL Hop-On Hop-Off [Official Site]
· Kuala Lumpur Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Srini rules]]]> amandak 2008-07-18T09:20:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/2/9279/05434

The airport internet provider we love to hate, Boingo, is giving away WiFi this holiday weekend. You'll only get 24 hours of free access before you have to pay, but hey, free stuff!

You'll have to download a program called GoBoingo from the company's website to get online, but it's not much of a hassle. After your free session is over, you can use the same program to reconnect to any Boingo-managed hotspot for $8 a day.

Given how prevalent those are in bigger airports, this could certainly come in handy over the long holiday weekend.

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· Boingo's Free WiFi [Official Site]
· Airport WiFi Map [Jaunted]
· Airport WiFi coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-07-02T09:30:10-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/23/133127/198

Megabus is riding high with new double-decker coaches and lots of new passengers thanks to $4-a-gallon gas. But is service on the super cheap bus up to snuff? Sort of!

One recent Megabus rider wasn't looking forward to her trip. Said an Ohio University student:

No one wants to take the bus, but driving and flying are so expensive.

Why wouldn't anyone want to roll Megabus style? Probably because of what another rider experienced:

The scene on 31st Street was TOTAL CHAOS. People lined up on the sidewalk for different destinations. We left about half an hour late, but smooth sailing the rest of the way, and I sat up front with no one next to me. The bus driver had NEVER driven to Boston before, so I had to help him out.

Still... It's only a dollar! Doesn't matter to people in LA: The car-lovers out west never got on board.

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· Distance Bus Travel Revives [Columbus Dispatch]
· You Mostly Get What You Pay For [The Doree Chronicles]
· Buses coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Sung Sook]]]> pbb 2008-06-23T13:31:27-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/19/20383/1966

Before our recent Superfly flight, we had the opportunity to spend some time in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at SFO. We were greeted by a woman who looked like a missing character from an "Austin Powers" movie. She was older, just a hair over five feet tall with big red hair, even bigger glasses and a vague English accent. She said things like "Welcome love, great to have you here!" Good start...

]]> DanielR 2008-06-20T16:45:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/18/17328/9595

Philadelphia isn't one of those towns that's overflowing with quirky coffee shops, but it's worth a ride out on the SEPTA train to hit up Milkboy Coffee, an always-happening cafe in the Mainline suburb of Ardmore.

Set between Haverford, Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore, the spacious venue is always buzzing with studious types--probably thanks to the free WiFi and 10 percent student discount. Evenings are a little more lively, offering live music, indie movie premiers, art openings, book readings and DJ nights. The drinks menu is limited to java, but like many of Philly's finer venues, you can bring your own booze.

There's also a smaller offshoot of Milkboy about two miles up the Mainline in Bryn Mawr; it features live acoustic performances. Both locations serve breakfast and a menu of sandwiches and grill items.

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· Milkboy Coffee [Official Site]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jessiezhng9]]]> BS 2008-06-19T10:30:01-05:00 40.007775 -75.290817 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/