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Starbucks Frees Wi-Fi

Posted by kdawson on from the free-as-in-coffee dept.

CWmike sends in this excerpt from Computerworld: "Free unlimited Wi-Fi is coming to nearly 7,000 company-operated Starbucks stores in the US beginning July 1, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said on Monday. Schultz also said that Starbucks is partnering with Yahoo! to debut the Starbucks Digital Network this fall. Starbucks customers will have free unrestricted access to various paid sites and services, such as wsj.com, as well as other free downloads Starbucks didn't detail. A spokeswoman said the access will be 'unlimited' and 'simplified, one-click.' By comparison, first-time Wi-Fi users in Starbucks stores now get up to two hours free after registering, but then must purchase additional time at the rate of $3.99 for two consecutive hours. That Wi-Fi access is already free to AT&T DSL home customers and AT&T mobile customers, according to the Starbucks website, but the connection process requires up to nine steps. McDonald's added free Wi-Fi to 11,500 locations earlier this year."

10 of 241 comments (clear)

  1. Yay! by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now I can get a small cup of coffee and free WiFI for only $7!

    1. Re:Yay! by 2.7182 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Even better - I go with my mug and just fill it with half-and-half and drink that all morning. Then by lunch time I so full I don't need to eat. Free dairy! mmmm.....

    2. Re:Yay! by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

  2. That is the sound of Progress by darjen · · Score: 3, Funny

    Business adding more value for customers.

  3. Re:I've noticed something interesting by selven · · Score: 3, Funny

    Mine is still a nearly 100% Mac shop, when I'm inside even at peak time Linux temporarily becomes more popular than Windows.

  4. What?! by snikulin · · Score: 2, Funny

    You mean that SSID "very poor Mom-n-Pop shop" I use all the time for donwloading iTune HD content is not Starbucks'?
    Oops!

  5. Re:TANSTAAFL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Or, you know, just ifconfig wlan0 down && ifconfig wlan0 hw ether 11:22:33:44:55:66 && ifconfig wlan0 up.

    What was that I heard over my head? It sounded a bit like a 'whoosh'

  6. Re:Finally by michaelhood · · Score: 5, Funny

    And I'm still not interested in using any wifi device in a coffee shop. And not interested in drinking coffee either. Or hanging out with the sorts of people who hang out in coffee shops.

    Sometimes it's nice to actually NOT be connected to the internet.

    Thanks for sharing. I'll look for next week's post about you not watching TV.

  7. Re:Give up caffeine, people... by Antisyzygy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Would you like a coffee with "full release"?

    --
    That brings me to an interesting point, / . is just "the ramblings of socially-inept, technology-literate news-mongers".
  8. Starbucks Are Also Changing The Seating Plan.... by pandrijeczko · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...so all of the Apple fanbois can position themselves in such a way as to reflect the light from the little silver apple directly into the eyes of customers coming into the store.

    --
    Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.