O2 adds BT Openzone to iPhone access list

The iPhone automatically selects the fastest available network

O2 has announced a deal with BT allowing iPhone customers to access the internet for free through BT Openzone premier Wi-Fi hotspots from 11 July.

The launch of the partnership coincides with the release of the new iPhone 3G, but will be available to all iPhone customers.

BT Openzone has around 3,000 hotspots across the UK, including 13 BT wireless city centres and locations such as coffee shops, railway stations, airport lounges, motorway service stations and marinas.

The iPhone automatically selects the fastest available network, preferring Wi-Fi over 3G as it generally provides a much faster connection.

O2's iPhone contract has a fair usage policy for browsing and downloading over the cellular network, but provides unlimited data over Wi-Fi.

O2 has already signed a deal with Wi-Fi provider The Cloud to allow free access via any of its hotspots.

The two partnerships bring the number of available public Wi-Fi hotspots for iPhone customers to over 9,000.

"By working with partners like BT Openzone we can maximise the web experience for iPhone customers," said Ronan Dunne, chief executive at O2 in the UK.

"Public Wi-Fi hotspots ideally complement our mobile network, providing high speed web browsing and unlimited access to services like the iTunes Wi-Fi store in a wide variety of convenient locations."