FAQ: The Starbucks/AT&T Wi-Fi Deal
Tue Feb 12, 2008 12:11PM EST
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Wondering if your T-Mobile HotSpots subscription is in jeopardy now that Starbucks is switching to AT&T's Wi-Fi service? Read on for the answer to that question, and more.
A: Yes, you'll still be able to use your HotSpot membership at Starbucks. According to Moconews, AT&T and T-Mobile have signed a five-year roaming agreement, which includes HotSpot and HotSpot @Home users.
Q: When will AT&T Wi-Fi service arrive at my local Starbucks?
A: In a press release, AT&T promises that the "transition" will begin this spring, and that all 7,000-odd U.S. Starbucks will have AT&T Wi-Fi by the end of the year.
Q: What are the new AT&T Wi-Fi rates?
A: A monthly plan is available for $19.95 a month, or you can buy a two-hour block for $3.99. By way of comparison, T-Mobile charges $29.99 a month for HotSpot access with a 12-month commitment (or $39.99 month-to-month), $9.99 for a day pass, and $6 for a two-hour block. T-Mobile also offers a $5/month unlimited HotSpot plan for "portable electronics," but the choice of devices is limited to the Kodak EasyShare-One, the Sony PSP and Mylo, and a trio of Nikon Coolpix cameras. Overall, AT&T is looking like the better deal for Starbucks Wi-Fi users.
Q: Wait, I heard you'd be able to get your first two hours of AT&T Wi-Fi access for free. What's the deal?
A: Well, that depends. AT&T Broadband and U-Verse customers will get free AT&T/Starbucks Wi-Fi access,. The rest of us will be able to get our first two hours of Starbucks Wi-Fi free with a Starbucks Card (basically a pre-pay coffee card). And if you're a Starbucks employee, you get free Wi-Fi, all the time.
Q: What about my iPhone—it's on AT&T, so will I get free Wi-Fi at Starbucks now?
A: According to Macworld, AT&T hasn't announced whether iPhone owners will get free Starbucks Wi-Fi service, but it hasn't ruled it out either. At the very least, iPhone users will still be able to access the iTunes Music Store gratis over Starbucks Wi-Fi. Stay tuned.
Comments on FAQ: The Starbucks/AT&T Wi-Fi Deal
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2 Posted by gentlestench on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse
WiFi at Cutters Point coffee shops is also free. Sorry, no real food.
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3 Posted by krholsten on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse
http://www.wififreespot.com/ free wifi world wide -no coffee required
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4 Posted by mrhawkinsjohn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse
Starbucks should have free WiFi service. Starbucks is crying about not making money. Give free WiFi.
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5 Posted by johnnycakes78704 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse
Starbucks is the ONLY place in Austin that charges for use of their WiFi. Every other coffeehouse, bookstore, GROCERY store, even University has free WiFi. Their poor ability to create great tasting coffee on top of their relentless wanton desire to make the extra buck by charging for WiFi when everyone else offers it for free is why I have no desire to nor ever will go to Starbucks.
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6 Posted by mtoy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:29PM EDT Report Abuse
If you are local, there is no reason to pay for WiFi, there is almost always a free choice nearby. However for a traveller, the fact that it isn't hard to find a Starbucks almost anywhere in the US makes the WiFi valuable. I'd of course prefer free, but I have run into a Starbucks and dropped some cash on T-Mobile many times when I've been interneet deprived and away from home.
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7 Posted by lancealot59 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse
IMHO, Starbucks was suffering from the "in crowd" coming in and taking up real estate, i.e. buying a "token" beverage and then sitting for hours on end for one thing or another, mobile office for sales people, study hall for the preppies, and not getting enough in return. So the smart business model was to intro the "pay for" WiFi. Accomplishes two things: 1. brings in some revenue, although minimal. 2. Gets rid of the free loaders taking up space for the paying customer. Don't get me wrong here, I'm all for "free WiFi" but the reason to be in business is to make money. What we should be advocating is "Free WiFi for The Masses" accross the nation, not is localized spots. The internet was meant to be free!!
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8 Posted by jimdewedge on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:35PM EDT Report Abuse
In Texas their are a lot of DQ's with free WiFi. Nothing like a blizzard.
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9 Posted by barecycler on Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:25PM EST Report Abuse
Free wi-fi is just good business. Charging is greedy. Starbucks is the Wal-Mart of coffee anyway- move in, run out the competition and cash in with your investors. I'm at Panera as I type this enjoying a so-so cup of coffee and a little pumpkin muffie- $2.97... try that at Starbucks. I purposely boycott Starbucks for the wi-fi issue mainly.
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10 Posted by sohrob76 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:31PM EDT Report Abuse
Starbucks is not all bad. To their credit, I believe they offer health insurance to their hourly employees if they work a minimum number of hours a week and they pay higher than minimum wage. That being said, I do think that they are shooting themselves in the foot by not offering free or reduced cost Wi-Fi but then again, they probably don't want a lot of people lingering in their stores who buy one drink and sit for hours just for the free internet access. It's not cheap to lease those locations they are in.
1 Posted by wilksbl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:46PM EDT Report Abuse
Wi Fi at Panera Bread is free and you can get real food there.