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T-Mobile Sues Starbucks Over Free Wi-Fi Deal

Posted by Soulskill on from the hot-spot-flare-up dept.

Glenn Fleishman writes "T-Mobile sent me the text of a lawsuit they filed yesterday against Starbucks. The telecom firm alleges that Starbucks didn't involve it in any discussions to launch their free loyalty program Wi-Fi service this week with AT&T. AT&T is gradually taking over hot-spot operation from T-Mobile, market by market over the course of 2008. T-Mobile told me Starbucks is essentially giving away something that isn't theirs. T-Mobile has sued to halt the two-hours-a-day of free service, and is asking for money to cover losses. This might sound like sour grapes, but T-Mobile still operates most of the network, and says that the terms to which they agreed with Starbucks and AT&T for the transition and with AT&T for bilateral roaming don't cover this situation at all. Maybe free access in exchange for buying a cup of joe every 30 days was too good to be true (this soon)."

6 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. sent text? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    T-Mobile sent me the text of a lawsuit they filed yesterday

    Just wait, they'll charge you 50 cents for that too.

  2. Re:Hmmm by austexmonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    'Thanks' for the 'explanation'. I've often 'wondered' how 'free wifi' 'worked' in 'restaurants' and the 'like'. I 'find' it surprising that 'satellite' is still used for 'inventory' 'systems'.

  3. Re:Does anyone actually Care by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I do not do T-Mobile or Starbucks. How is this even close to Nerd News?
    It involves caffeine and computers, how would it not be interesting to nerds? What we have here is a Pringles can full of burnt coffee causing a failure to communicate.
  4. Re:Hmmm by maxume · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm normally all for the tiresome parsing of other people's statements in ways that they clearly did not intend, but you are really pushing it here.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  5. Re:Hmmm by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have no idea what you are doing here. You should be off having sex with animals, which - by your argument - the law has been allowing you to do for years now. (See parents SlashID and E-Mail address if this sounds like it comes from the ether.)

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  6. Re:hmm by iknowcss · · Score: 5, Funny

    LOL what's a demographic?

    Sent from my iPhone

    --
    Life is rarely fair. Cherish the moments when there is a right answer.