The Wall Street Journal is offering free Wi-Fi to residents of New York City and San Francisco. The Wi-Fi network is available through more than 1,300 hotspots labeled “The Wall Street Journal Wi-Fi.” You won’t need a Wall Street Journal subscription to access the network, but you will need to create a free WSJ.com account or log in with your existing credentials.

The paper says the network covers approximately two-thirds of Manhattan, including Times Square, Union Square and the West Village, as well as some areas in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. San Franciscans will be able to log in at Washington Square, Nob Hill and Fisherman’s Wharf, among other neighborhoods.
It’s an unusual marketing move for a media company, but not a digital one. Companies like Google and Skype have offered free Wi-Fi on flights and in airports as a way to bolster sign-ups and collect marketing data.