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Starbucks Drops T-Mobile For AT&T

Posted by kdawson on from the too-little-too-latte dept.

stoolpigeon writes "Ars reports that Starbucks is replacing T-Mobile with AT&T as their Wi-Fi provider. AT&T broadband customers will be able to access the service for free. Starbucks card users will get 2 hours a day free. 2-hour, daily, and monthly rates will be lower than they were with T-Mobile. Starbucks says that their previously announced deal to tie in with iTunes will continue under AT&T. For now AT&T isn't offering free Wi-Fi to iPhone users, but says it expects to accommodate them soon. Quoting the article: 'The companies didn't specify exactly when the rollout would begin, only saying that it would take place this spring... [The company plans] to install all new equipment at Starbucks as part of this agreement, so the changeover won't be as simple as flipping a switch.'"

6 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. Hooray? by Arclight17 · · Score: 5, Informative

    If I want wireless while I'm out and about, I go to Panera or a local cafe that offers it for free....
    So BFD if it changes!
    I use http://www.wififreespot.com/ to find free wifi when I'm away from home. (No, I don't work for them or get money for it :)

    --
    All men can fly, but sadly, only in one direction--Down.
    1. Re:Hooray? by ScentCone · · Score: 4, Informative

      If you RTFA, you'll see that people who use one of those Starbucks cards at the register (which you can fill by dropping some cash in it once in a while) will get 2 hours of no-extra-charge WiFi while they're there. Sure you can be a parasite at Panera without buying anything, but it's fairly bad form. Starbucks will get clobbered on bandwidth, but they'll sell some more coffee, and they'll earn a little interest on the $5 everyone will have sitting on those pre-loaded cards.

      --
      Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
    2. Re:Hooray? by Zemran · · Score: 4, Informative

      any coffee shop worth spending any time in already has free wifi.

      I am sitting in the coffee shop of the art gallery in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, using the free WiFi... Where is Starbucks? (O.K. we have got SB here but who needs it?). As you say, every decent coffee shop now has free WiFi...

      --
      I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
  2. Headline is completely wrong by PitaBred · · Score: 4, Informative

    According to TechDirt at least. Seems they're just going to allow a choice, rather than replace T-Mobile with AT&T. But why let the facts get in the way of a good headline...

    --
    My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
  3. Re:Headline is completely right by node+3 · · Score: 4, Informative
    No, TechDirt is absolutely wrong.

    From Starbucks:
    In recognition of the many T-Mobile customers who enjoy visiting Starbucks, the Company is also announcing that T-Mobile HotSpot customers will be able to continue to access Wi-Fi services at no additional cost, through an agreement between AT&T and T-Mobile.

    T-Mobile's hardware and network are being removed, and AT&T's are being installed. What's happened is AT&T and T-Mobile have a deal (probably at Starbucks' behest) to allow T-Mobile customers to access the AT&T hotspots in Starbucks.

    But why let the facts get in the way of a good headline... Indeed...
  4. Re:I visited starbucks by tuomoks · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here in Seattle - come and smell the real coffee. But don't go to Starbucks, any corner has a better coffee shop and real cups. And who drinks coffee out of paper or plastic mug anyway?? This city is full of free wifi places, not much reason to pay. Maybe not as good as S.F. but getting there.