Google Replaces AT&T At Starbucks
coolnumbr12 writes "A new partnership between Starbucks and Google hopes to improve the lives of freelance writers around the country. Starting in August, Google plans to make Internet speeds at all 7,000 Starbucks locations in the U.S. 10 times faster than the current AT&T-powered service. For people in a city equipped with Google Fiber, Google says the speed in Starbucks could increase as much as 100 times."
It's about freaking time!
Whenever I go to Starbucks I often find myself turning OFF my Wi-Fi because my (also AT&T, strangely) LTE cellular connection is several times faster than the Wi-Fi there. Sometimes I even have trouble sending something as low-bandwidth as a freaking tweet!
I think Starbucks uses slow consumer-grade DSL connections, because that's what it feels like. Upstream capacity is severely limited, and downstream is only slightly less so. I remember attempting a Facetime call and getting less than one frame per second in both directions and constant reconnecting...turned off Wi-Fi and it was smooth as silk.
Meanwhile, my experience in Starbucks in Canada (where they don't use AT&T) is far superior.
...Google decides to cancel the service all the sudden.
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Google demonstrates ability to rapidly expand their carrier services nationwide through partnering with established carriers. Passersby injured from falling bricks shat from oligolpolistic ISPs atop their high horses.
It more than likely will not mean faster Internet speeds for customers, but they will have mow bandwidth so more customers can get online. Most free wi-fi hotspots cap bandwidth at 1 MBPS. That gives enough for basic web surfing and email, and maybe the occasional short YouTube clip. But it's not enough for heavy use, like watching Netflix or BitTorrent. Places like Starbucks probably want to keep it that way, too -- more customer turnover = more money. More happy customers that can access wi-fi easier = mow returning customers.
From "search" to "mobile" to "telecom" .. Way to go?
Well, at least all the starbuck leeches will have another reason to sit in starbucks all day long. Free wi-fi. Never been in one, but friends say that they sometimes see the same people with their laptops & phones just sitting there all day long leeching off their wifi. Typical...to cheap to pay for it themselves, so they just leech off someone else.
please please come to my starbucks. Oh god please let them come to my starbucks.
I wonder if this also includes McDonald's, which has the same WiFi contract with AT&T?
A company, some of whose practices we don't like, has other practices and services many people do like.
Even when I go to a 24 hr location that isn't packed, I get ridiculous ping times (why yes I have checked. This is ./). That wouldn't bother me but sometimes I like to work outside of the house and drop some cash at the nearest Starbucks, and I need a usable internet connection to do my work.
Also fuck AT&T.
So, you can search on Duck-Duck-Go, but it takes twice as long as Google
Only because Duck Duck Go is slower. The Net Neutrality part (as described in the article) means you can't run your business servers inside Starbucks. Nothing to do with prioritising one web-site over another.
And this brings to a end my ever using the free internet at Starbucks. It was fun while it lasted but Privacy & Not being tracked the packet level > a few bucks saved. Go Fuck Yourself Mr Do No Evil. Citizen 165258 does not agree with your corporate plan. Google can pry my privacy from my cold dead hands.
I would like to thank The Academy, my family and fans. Thank you and Good Night.
It will be Level 3 equipment/network instead of AT&T for this deal.
Well... nowadays, everyone's a critic.
But never forget:
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
Sounds like already Shakespeare saw the comming of Google Glass....
bickerdyke
I'd like to have a word with their upgrade team. Seems very inefficient to make that many call-outs just to upgrade one location.
Seriously. Starbucks is about the best example of the 'Emperor's Clothes' syndrome in the fast food market. Their burnt, overroasted coffee is atrocious!
Or, will I still have to find "Wayport Access" at McDonalds? If I remember correctly, the Google sponsored WiFi at SeaTac airport is Linux friendly.
So, with this change, will Starbucks now be offering free apps/music through Google Play for Android devices or only continue to offer through iTunes/iOS?
My guesthouse in bangkok had 16 mbps connection, free for guests. My internet connections in my hotels in Thailand and Cambodia were faster and cheaper than in the US (none of my hotels charged for internet [even the 4* had free internet]). The idea that hotels should be able nickel and dime us for internet is nuts.
Can they replace Starbuck's at Starbuck's while they're at it?
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
to improve the lives of freelance writers around the country. Starting in August, Google plans to make Internet speeds at all 7,000
If your writing requires more baud than a dial-up BBS to upload, you're doing it wrong... That or your caffeine has been replaced by amphetamines.
A data bonanza, all that traffic going through their pipe, using their DNS it will be glorious....
I can drink starbucks black, it isn't bitter at all, because they extract it correctly.
I periodically see people claim that this or that coffee "isn't bitter" and they are invariably wrong. ALL coffee is bitter and starbucks is no exception. It is merely a question of degree. I have a very low tolerance for bitter tastes (prob genetic) and I have NEVER tasted any coffee that wasn't bitter. Only way you could claim it isn't bitter is if you aren't sensitive to bitter flavors. I love the smell of coffee but the bitterness makes coffee unpalatable to me without a lot of sugar.
For most people, Starbucks is the best coffee around.
I don't regard starbucks coffee as any better than McDonalds or Dunkin Donuts and those aren't exactly hard to find.
Anything on slashdot about Google, draws ms shills like flies to shit.
Okay, all together now: " GOOGLE IS EVIL!!!! EVIL!!! EVIL!!"
AT&T :)
---- Booth was a patriot ----