Hundreds of bathrobe-clad New Yorkers lined up at T-Mobile's Madison Avenue store for their chance to get a free Hotspot@Home kit. Why bathrobes? Cuz they're soft and comfy, and they go with everything, of course! Well, it's actually because T-Mobile's aforementioned service offers free calls over Wi-Fi, meaning customers don't even have to leave their home to take advantage of free calls. Of course, they can also make free calls at Starbucks and anywhere there's an open Wi-Fi connection. This is good for those who consistently run over their allotted monthly minutes, and also for those who get poor reception at home or in their office building. (A common problem in NYC, for sure.)

Here's how it works: using either the Samsung T409 and Nokia 6086 ($49.99 each) customers can hook up to any Wi-Fi connection (without needing a dataplan) and make unlimited calls without using up their minutes. What's nice is that if you start your call over Wi-Fi and then walk out of range, even though your phone will switch over to the wireless network, you will not be running up minutes. [Images after the jump.]

The first 100 people on line, who were wearing bathrobes (no exceptions) received a Samsung T409 phone, a Linksys or D-Link routers, and one year of Hotspot@Home service. (Regular pricing is $9.99/month or $19.99 for a family plan.) Anyone who shows up to the store today (bathrobe or not) can sign up to be eligible for a nice prize: a Samsung 40-inch Flat Panel LCD television and a $1,000 Pier 1 Imports gift certificate in addition to the Hotspot@Home service and kit.Check T-Mob's special site for store locations.

As you can see above, even David Beigie, T-Mobile's vice president of marketing was not afraid to don his Terry cloth robe, PJs and fuzzy slippers for today's event.

First on line: Friar Tuck? The line started forming last night at 6pm. Good thing he had a bathrobe!

And the last guy in, bathrobe draped over his arm. (Photo: T-Mobile/Stuart Ramson )

Bathrobed customers sign up for the big prize

A T-Mobile Segway

The goods: the Samsung T409 and the routers