“Starbucks Corp. is teaming up with AT&T Inc. and will start offering a mix of free and paid wireless Internet service in many of its U.S. coffee shops, beginning this spring,” Elizabeth M. Gillespie reports for The Associated Press.
“The world’s largest specialty coffee retailer’s move ends a six-year partnership T-Mobile, which did not include free Wi-Fi and charged more than the new AT&T service will cost,” Gillespie reports.
“Starbucks said Monday it will give customers that use its Starbucks purchase card two hours of free wireless access per day. After that, it will cost $3.99 for a two-hour session. Monthly memberships will cost $19.99 and include access to any of AT&T’s 70,000 hot spots worldwide,” Gillespie reports. “Nearly all of AT&T’s broadband Internet customers will automatically have unlimited free Wi-Fi access at Starbucks.”
“Chris Bruzzo, Starbucks’ chief technology officer, would not disclose how many customers use the T-Mobile service in Starbucks stores, but said he expects many more will use the new service. Starbucks will begin rolling it out this spring and aims to have it available in its more than 7,000 company-operated domestic stores by the end of the year,” Gillespie reports. “AT&T, the nation’s largest telecommunications company, has powered the network service Starbucks uses to run its cash registers and other computer systems for years.”
Gillespie reports, “Last month, AT&T announced plans to make its 10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots free to nearly all of its broadband Internet customers. The move expanded access to include subscribers who have a lower tier of high-speed Internet service, increasing to 12 million the number of broadband customers who can use the hotspots free of charge. Previously, only subscribers to AT&T’s premium broadband service had free access. Monday’s announcement boosts the number of AT&T hotspots in the U.S. to 17,000 — the most in the nation.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “ChicagoPhotoGuy” for the heads up.]
Nationwide wifi hotspot for all iPhone users in all major cities.
Dump 3G altogether.
AAPL is on its way back up…get on the bandwagon while you still can and make Kramer seethe and hit his bomb shoulda woulda coulda button.
I wonder how many Starbucks will be open when the recession ends. Business has to be down considerably.
Amen, Bad Tabasco.
Nowhere in the article did I see that iPhone users qualify for free access. It keeps mentioning “AT&T;’s broadband customers”, and even there, not all are elligible (“nearly all…”).
I am assuming that iPhone customers WILL be included, since Starbucks already has a nice WiFi deal for iTunes browsing. Someone will have to clarify this, though.
<<“Nearly all of AT&T;’s broadband Internet customers will automatically have unlimited free Wi-Fi access at Starbucks.”>>
Wonder what this means for all us iPhone users?
AT&T;and Starbucks’ common denominator = Apple.
If you have AT&T;broadband at home you will be able to use these for free.
I have tried it at one of my local McDonald’s and it worked. I did have to call AT&T;customer service for them to make it work, but it did work…
However, just because you have an iPhone it does not necessarily mean that it will work…I would expect AT&T;to make this happen soon though.
Hopefully…
I walked in a B&N;cafe w/ my iPhone (seeing AT&T;WiFI hotspot on the door) and was shocked they wanted me to pay for access.
People still do that?
And WTF is B&N;not offering it free?
from the article:
“AT&T;also is giving Starbucks’ more than 100,000 U.S. employees free wireless accounts and said it will soon extend the Wi-Fi at Starbucks to its wireless phone customers. The company announced no details or time frame for the expansion.”
But it only runs on java.
@Ampar:
You’ve lost your wit with that comment!
The major reason I don’t go to Starbucks – except their crummy coffee and predatory business model – is that they charge for WiFI access..
C
I don’t think they are dumping T-Mobile. On the contrary, T-Mobile and AT&T;reached an agreement that allows both carriers to have their networks at Sbux.
I hope the “pipes and system of tubes” is big enough.
i seem to recall that expresso machines have lots of pipes and tubes. i guess that it what makes it all work… for Starbucks…
What is even more interesting is if they GPS style log these and then use it to locate via google maps….for the iPhone….can say find me down to a few inches…
i think we all saw this coming anyway… lets see iPhone able to display song thats playing over Starbucks sound system… hmmm… iPhone app sooner or later that will allow you to buy before getting there… oh by the way iPhone is servicing on AT&T;screw t-mobile.
I’ve been avoiding the Starbucks in my neighborhood to go to an independent down the road that offers free wireless to everybody, no limits.
I read this weekend that Starbucks is in some trouble these days, nowhere to grow, and pricey coffee is a luxury item that people cut when they’re cutting back.
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080208.r-cover09/BNStory/robMarketing/home
This is a smart move to woo people back.
To What happened?:
Lighten up. We all have off days. Today the carafe is half empty.
My local Vons offers free WiFi to everyone in order to attract customers.
THAT’S the future of public WiFi offered by business.
I don’t know about you others, but I understand this deal will allow those who have Starbucks coffee cards, 2 hrs of free access a day. This seemed like a no-brainer after the iTunes linkup. I can’t wait until they decide to offer WiMax as well, creating a nationwide WiMax network.
@Ampar:
That’s twice today!
free wifi, bring it on
I want to know if anyone reading this has ever paid for internet access? I just want to know why? I have never had such an immediate need to get on the internet that I would pay for it. With so many open networks around, I cannot see the use in this. Anyone care to share their opinions.