Free Wi-Fi in Shanghai for two hours a day

Christmas has come early to Shanghai’s tech geeks this month in a triple whammy of techno treats: the iPad China is set to be released on Friday, it's rumored that the iPhone 4 will hit the mainland in the next few weeks and now we all get two hours of free Wi-Fi, thanks to China Telecom.

Starting this month, according to Shanghai Daily, anyone in the city with a mobile phone account can get up to two hours of free Shanghai Wi-Fi use a day.

Places rigged for the service include the airports, local malls, major hotels, the Expo and some cafes (think Starbucks). 

Logging on should take less than 60 seconds and should only require one thing: a mobile phone. 

In theory, how the Shanghai free Wi-Fi works:
1. Type in your mobile phone number to China Telecom's wireless network (WLAN) web portal.
2. Receive a temporary password through a text message.
3. Sign on.

Although China has been offering low-cost Wi-Fi services to its customers for a while now (RMB 0.06 a minute), the idea of offering Wi-Fi in China to mobile users regardless of their phone company is an important development, say industry insiders to Shanghai Daily, "as it will push the development of Wi-Fi networks and services in China."