Starbucks Switches from T-Mobile to AT&T for WiFi Access Brandon Hill (Blog) - February 11, 2008 12:43 PM Starbucks gets a new partner for customer WiFi access Coffee means big business here in the United States. Starbucks grew from its humble roots in the Northwest to a point now where you can find at least a few within a 5 mile radius in any major U.S. city. Fast food chain McDonalds has even gotten in on the act to cash in on the success of “premium” coffee. In an attempt to provide a better "in store experience" for its customers and to distance itself from a growing McDonalds threat, Starbucks today announced a new strategic alliance to provide WiFi service to customers. Beginning in the spring of 2008, 7,000+ Starbucks stores in the U.S. will switch from T-Mobile WiFi access to AT&T. “As we continue to build our technology offerings in ways that both enhance and expand the Starbucks Experience for our customers, we made a strategic decision to expand our existing relationship with our longtime technology partner AT&T to include consumer Wi-Fi,” said Starbucks CTO Chris Bruzzo. Starbucks notes that its customers that wish to continue using T-Mobile Hotspot access will be able to do so seamlessly thanks to an agreement between AT&T and T-Mobile. According to the company, Starbucks cardholders will be allotted two hours of free WiFi access per day at Starbucks stores. As reported by DailyTech in late January, existing AT&T broadband and AT&T U-verse customers will have access to free WiFi at any time. “This is what our customers have been waiting for — free Starbucks-quality Wi-Fi,” Bruzzo continued. “Through our new partnership with AT&T, we also welcome their millions of current customers who can now come in and enjoy free Wi-Fi as part of their daily Starbucks Experience.” Customers without a Starbucks card or an AT&T broadband account will pay $3.99 for two hours of service or $19.99 for a month's worth of surfing. DailyTech - Starbucks Switches from T-Mobile to AT&T for WiFi Access
Wirelessly posted (Walkguru's: Nokia6555b/2.0 (03.31) Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.1.17.06.3.1.17.0) Is it true bn switched too?
Well I don't know if Barnes and Noble was ever T-Mobile, but there location here in Buffalo has been ATT wifi for months now.
Wirelessly posted (Treo 750: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.6) UP.Link/6.3.1.17.0) I thought most Barnes & Noble if not all, were already at&t. I know the closest one to me is for sure.
I hate starbucks, but I also love starbucks. Every now and then I will indulge and get a Iced Vanilla Latte, and NO ONE else can make it as good as starbucks does. I don't know what it is that makes it so good.
Join IN when it come to not liking CHARBUCKS. Its a nice atmosphere but its burnt coffee that I won't buy. When the sell smoother coffee I may go back. Losing T Mobile is a problem for T Mobile home WiFi users.
Hate em or love em starbucks has a business model that has worked and turned into a multi-billion $ company. They do make good mocha lattes too . An important thing to note is that T-Mobile Hotspot users will still have access to Wifi in all starbucks locations "for many years to come."
Though I like coffee, I just don't drink it. I haven't had any caffeine (coffee or soda) since June of 1999. So I have no reason or desire to go there. Everyone else I know loves the place. I'm just not caught up in the frenzy.
I love their espresso drinks, but when I want coffee, I think that Dunkin Donuts has the best coffee. I do like Starbucks for their environment. It kind of sucks because we do not have a Dunkin Donuts around here. If my wife was not so dependent on cable, I would consider switching to DSL just to have the WI-Fi network for free when I travel.
Not really.... In the article it says that T-Mobile WiFi users will continue to have access to Starbucks access points through an agreement between AT&T and T-Mobile. So in the end, this is just an ISP change. However, it is good to know that now both AT&T and T-Mobile WiFi customers will have access to those networks whereas previously it was only T-Mobile users.
its a great day. And great news for customers of 2 companies that dont mind giving you wifi access. maybe one day some of the other competitors will figure out that people dont always like to have every red cent squeezed out of them and remember the old "customer is always right" motto will always win over customers.
I don't think that I plan to use the wifi network at any location. LOL, If I am there for coffee then that means I am runing away from anything that has to do with internet (including my PDA phones).
im pretty much in agreement with that haha. coffee is for reading the paper and relaxing.. im not a big wifi person, but its cool for many
[T Mobile seems to be trying to do some damage control: T-Mobile has dropped the monthly price of its Hotspot @Home service from $20 to $10. The Hotspot@Home service allows for unlimited calling from a Wi-Fi-equipped phone when using your Wi-Fi network at home. T-Mobile only has a few handsets that can use Hotspot@Home, including the BlackBerry Curve. The price drop follows news that Starbucks recently announced it will change Wi-Fi providers from T-Mobile to AT&T. Source: T-Mobile Lowers Price of Hotspot@Home (Phone Scoop) Once one goes through the purchase process of teh BB or so this is the option info for it: New Low Price HotSpot@Home Talk Forever Mobile Add-on Make and receive unlimited nationwide calls over Wi-Fi both at home or at any U.S. T-Mobile HotSpot location anytime – day or night. $9.99 per month
It'd be stupid of them not too. They may have to drop it again to compete with the amount of free wifi out there.
Re: s-bucks swishes . . . . . More cake for the 3,000 lb gorilla . . . . nice . . . . not . . . . I guess free, unaffiliated wi-fi is too much to expect from the s-bux . . . . Best.
Funny since McDonalds offers AT&T WiFi access. LOL!!! I've been using WiFi at B&N and McD's for at least a year now - it will be nice to have another option. Haven't checked out the UPS Store yet. :biggrin:
They need to just offer it for free, or through some adds in there or something to win back they're market!
