It has been something of an up and down ride to get here, but AT&T seems to have at last succeeded in rolling out free WiFi access for iPhone users in the US. This after popping up back in May only to vanish without trace very quickly for reasons unconfirmed. Then in July the AT&T website published information on free WiFi for iPhones but as before, it vanished soon after.

Now, not only is the information back but the free service is actually working.

"Free AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available for Apple iPhone at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including Starbucks. Users can relax and access music, email and web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their nearest location" AT&T says.

Of course, it is a little convoluted and AT&T make you work for your WiFi dinner. First connect to an attwifi network at a hotspot, then fill in an online form with your iPhone number, wait for a text message containing an activation link, click on it and at last your WiFi is active and free. Now repeat for every location you want to use the service at, oh and repeat every day as the access expires after 24 hours.

Still it is free, it is working and for iPhone users in the US that has to be a good thing.