Wi-Fi provider Boingo Wireless said Microsoft will sponsor free Wi-Fi at locations in Manhattan and San Francisco through the end of the year. The effort will promote this month's launch of Windows 8 and Windows Store for Windows 8, in particular, by showcasing new apps via the program’s branded welcome screen.
Under the deal, Microsoft will sponsor Wi-Fi in six New York subway stations in the Chelsea neighborhood, as well as hotspots in San Francisco at locations, including Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, UN Plaza, the Financial District, and Nob Hill.
Starting Nov. 1, the software giant will expand the initiative to more than 200 free Wi-Fi zones in Manhattan.