Common questions

If your question isn't answered here, please call BT Openzone on 0870 240 5745 (national rate).

• Can I send and receive emails using BT Openzone?
• Is there a download limit?
• Will I be able to send and receive large files
  when using BT Openzone?
• How do I connect to banking, financial institution
  and other secure shopping internet sites?
• Is there any risk to health from using wireless
  network (WLAN) technology?
• Can I use my laptop and BT Openzone to make voice calls?
• Where can I find out further information about using BT Openzone minutes included with BT Total Broadband, or BT Business Broadband?

BT Openzone hotspots

• Where can I use BT Openzone in the UK and Ireland?
• Where can I use BT Openzone abroad?
• How do I find a BT Openzone hotspot?
• How can I tell when I'm in a BT Openzone hotspot?
• How do I connect to my company network?

Can I send and receive emails using BT Openzone?

BT Openzone provides fast wireless access to the internet and to send email you need to connect with your ISP's outgoing mail server. However, some ISPs don't allow users to connect directly to their outgoing mail servers from the internet because of security and spamming (junk email) concerns. It's therefore possible that you may have difficulty sending mail this way.

However, you can easily send mail via the BT Openzone outgoing SMTP mail server. To do this, you'll need to change your email program's (such as Outlook or Outlook Express) outgoing mail server setting to SMTP.btopenzone.com.

Download instructions about how to change this setting (PDF)

Is there a download limit?

No. Wireless broadband is perfect for uploading or downloading large files at fast speed. Usage is based on time rather than data transfer amount.

Will I be able to send and receive large
files when using BT Openzone?

You may be able to send large emails but please remember that a recipient's email account may limit the amount of data accepted. We suggest that you limit emails and attachments to 10MB.

How do I connect to banking, financial institution and other secure shopping internet sites?

Once you're connected to the internet using BT Openzone, you'll be able to access any of the sites you'd normally be able to visit. You won't need any special settings, but, upon signing in to your banking account, please remember to look for the padlock icon on your browser and click on it to confirm that the security certificate is valid.

Is there any risk to health from using
wireless network (WLAN) technology?

Wireless networks are no greater health hazard than mobile phones. Wireless networks cover much shorter distances than mobile phones and so operate at much lower power levels.

Can I use my laptop and BT Openzone to make voice calls?

Voice over IP (VoIP) products such as BT’s Softphone can be used when you’re at a BT Openzone hotspot, right after you’ve logged in. For more information about Softphone, go to www.bt.com/softphone

Where can I find out further information about using BT Openzone minutes included with BT Total Broadband, or BT Business Broadband?

Further information about using BT Openzone minutes included with BT Total Broadband can be found here. Further information about BT Openzone minutes included with Business Broadband can be found here.

BT Openzone hotspots

Where can I use BT Openzone in the UK and Ireland?

• At BT Openzone hotspots: located in convenient places such as airport lounges, cafes, conference centres, hotels and motorway service stations. Look for the distinctive BT Openzone sign
• At The Cloud hotspots: most BT Openzone customers can get online in even more hotspots by using those managed by The Cloud
• At hotspots provided by T-Mobile UK: available if you've an ongoing monthly account with BT Openzone. This excludes BT Openzone Voucher and BT Openzone Choice customers, and those who do not have a direct account with BT Openzone (i.e. use another service provider to access BT Openzone)

Find your nearest convenient hotspot

Where can I use BT Openzone abroad?

If you're a BT Openzone subscriber, you'll be able to access BT Openzone from thousands of locations worldwide.

Find out how and where to use our partner Wi-Fi networks abroad

How do I find a BT Openzone hotspot?

Find hotspots shows you a number of ways to locate your nearest BT Openzone hotspot, whether you're online, offline or on the move.

How can I tell when I'm in a BT Openzone hotspot?

BT Openzone wireless coverage can be found wherever you see a BT Openzone sign. If you've a laptop or PDA with wireless network (WLAN) connectivity and a username and password, you'll be able to access BT Openzone once you've opened your web browser.

How do I connect to my company network?

Once you've successfully logged into BT Openzone, you'll need to follow your company's procedures to access your Virtual Private Network (VPN) - the same process you would normally use to access your corporate network remotely. This may include supplying unique information from a SecurID token. You should check before you go to a hotspot that no additional steps are required for you to use
BT Openzone.

Once you've successfully logged into BT Openzone, you'll need to follow your company's procedures to access your Virtual Private Network (VPN) - the same process you would normally use to access your corporate network remotely. This may include supplying unique information from a SecurID token. You should check before you go to a hotspot that no additional steps are required for you to use BT Openzone. When you’re ready to end your BT Openzone session, it’s IMPORTANT to note that you must close your VPN connection, BEFORE ending your Openzone session.  

See also questions about:

• What's needed to use the service
• Payment
• Partners (BT Openzone in-a-Box)