Vista early birds can catch The Cloud free

Early adopters of Windows Vista will be able to get three months' free wi-fi access with hotspot operator The Cloud.

A spokesperson for The Cloud said: "[Microsoft] chose us because of the extensive network coverage we have in the UK, which is numerically far greater than some of the other wi-fi operators here," adding it is "delighted" by the partnership.

US Vista users are currently able to take advantage of a similar deal, with T-Mobile as the operator.

Vista users in Blighty will be able to access the service from early next week by visiting Microsoft's UK Vista homepage and signing up. The Cloud's spokesperson said users would not have to give any credit card details at sign-up - however, card details will be needed three months later if the customer wants to make their usage permanent.

The Cloud operates 7,500 wi-fi sites across the UK, with indoor hotspots in airports, railway stations and hotels, and outdoor "hotzones" in six city centres. The spokesperson added that The Cloud's square mile-wide wireless network across the City of London would be operational from the end of next month.

David Meyer writes for ZDNet UK