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Starbucks/AT&T Wi-Fi Launches May 1 for AT&T Customers (But Not the Rest of Us)
AT&T officially began rolling out their Starbucks Wi-Fi hotspots today (and confirmed the first one spotted in the wild). AT&T broadband customers get free Wi-Fi at all 7,000 Starbucks starting May 1 but the rest of us have to wait as it's deployed on a market-by-market basis throughout the year. (Which means the spots for AT&T customers are probably running on T-Mo's boxes.) We tried to get a more clear timeline, at least for major markets, but they aren't elaborating right now. [AT&T]
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, and SEATTLE, Wash., April 25, 2008 — AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced the beginning of the rollout of AT&T Wi-FiSM service at company-operated Starbucks stores, kicking off a nationwide effort that will continue through 2008. At the 2008 AT&T Inc. Annual Meeting of Stockholders in San Antonio, chairman and chief executive officer Randall Stephenson announced that the companies have already started the deployment of AT&T Wi-Fi service at Starbucks locations in San Antonio, making it the first market to deliver the complete AT&T Wi-Fi experience in the U.S.Also, as of May 1, qualifying AT&T high speed Internet and Wi-Fi customers will have complimentary Wi-Fi access at more than 7,000 Starbucks locations nationwide. For millions of AT&T customers, that means more speed in more places — and for free — is on its way.
"With the power of our Wi-Fi network, and through our partnership with Starbucks, we're strengthening our ability to meet the needs of today's mobile consumer virtually anywhere and everywhere," Stephenson said. "Expanding our reach across company-operated Starbucks locations nationwide helps us bridge the gap between our wired and wireless offerings and affirms AT&T's commitment to connect people with their worlds, everywhere they live and work."
"We continue to build on the experience we know our customers expect from us," said Chris Bruzzo, chief technology officer, Starbucks. "By partnering with AT&T as our U.S. Wi-Fi provider we aim to deliver a better value, greater convenience and seamless connectivity in a mobility centric world to our customers."
As of May 1, qualifying AT&T customers can connect to the Internet from Wi-Fi enabled company-operated Starbucks locations nationwide by simply selecting "ATTWiFi" after powering up their computers. Free AT&T Wi-Fi service is currently offered with AT&T's three higher-speed residential broadband packages, all small business broadband packages and with all AT&T U-verseSM offerings with high speed Internet service.
For other customers, AT&T Wi-Fi service will reach company-operated Starbucks locations on a market-by-market basis throughout the year. The experience will include a mix of free and paid connection options for both frequent and occasional Wi-Fi users and qualifying Starbucks customers. Once AT&T Wi-Fi service is available, customers will be able to shop and surf both Starbucks' and AT&T's respective home pages for products and services.
The initiative brings together two of the most recognisable global brands to create a powerful and convenient online experience for consumers and business customers. The San Antonio launch delivers on the companies' joint commitment to begin the rollout of AT&T Wi-Fi service this spring.
Tags: at&t | brief | gadgets | internet | laptops | networks | starbucks | wifi | wireless
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
kahri
Posted 3:52 AM 26/4/08
what happened to free wifi?
kahri
eben
Posted 3:44 AM 26/4/08
Anyone know how this is going to work? I am a AT&T broadband user and I wasn't able to find what I need to log in to use this service. Any clue?
eben
92BuickLeSabre
Posted 3:34 AM 26/4/08
When are they going to start deploying drinkable coffee on a market-by-market basis?
(*ba-dum-chhh*)
92BuickLeSabre
BWGunner
Posted 3:25 AM 26/4/08
Once again proving that the iphone data plan is utterly worthless.
BWGunner
gadgetchic
Posted 4:36 AM 26/4/08
what about at&t wireless customers?
gadgetchic
dangj307
Posted 4:30 AM 26/4/08
AT&T U-Verse being installed next week! Too bad it's starbucks though, do they mind if I bring in coffee from another place?
dangj307
shamoononon
Posted 4:11 AM 26/4/08
@92BuickLeSabre:Agreed!! I hate their coffee, and sure as hell won't pay $5 for a mocha. So, I stop at 7-11 on the way to work.
shamoononon
Sloth
Posted 4:11 AM 26/4/08
I was on one just the other day in Seattle,the motherland of StarBucks...
Sloth
dck47
Posted 4:08 AM 26/4/08
What happens to T-Mobile hotspot subscribers?
dck47
walkerdarin2003
Posted 4:02 AM 26/4/08
@kahri: What happened to free meals, oh thats right there is no such thing lol
walkerdarin2003
walkerdarin2003
Posted 4:01 AM 26/4/08
If you are an ATT broadband user then you have an ATT account registered with your DSL modem, I am correct those credentials should let you log in for free if you service permits it.
walkerdarin2003
Zendriver
Posted 4:57 AM 26/4/08
The Starbucks I frequent near the Dayton Mall (Ohio) already has their Deathstar fully operational. They still continue to run the T-Mobile service side-by-side with it, for the time being.
I first noticed it when my iPhone picked up both signals, where previously it just found the T-Mobile service. I confirmed it with the store manager, but was unable to test it as I don't have the at&t broadband service.
Zendriver
deeddawg
Posted 4:48 AM 26/4/08
@gadgetchic: What about them? I'm sure they can use the pay service just like anyone else who doesn't subscribe to one of the applicable AT&T DSL service levels.
deeddawg
nnnnnnnn
Posted 5:46 AM 26/4/08
I'm already getting free Wi-Fi at Chicago-area Starbucks using my DSL login. I think this started at least a couple weeks ago -- when I open my browser I still get the normal T-Mobile start page, but in the top right corner there's an orange AT&T box. Clicking that lets me log in in with my DSL credentials.
Pretty handy. I was so sick of those $6 charges for a 30-minute email session.
nnnnnnnn
firesign
Posted 6:28 AM 26/4/08
@kahri: it's in most places that are not starbucks.
firesign
Joseph
Posted 6:20 AM 26/4/08
@kahri: Capitalism.
Joseph
Norcross
Posted 6:10 AM 26/4/08
Dang. my T-Mobile data plan (20 bucks a month) included free Hot Spot access
Norcross
Nylo
Posted 6:03 AM 26/4/08
BIG FU*KING DEAL! More than half of the coffee cafe's in the Palo Alto area have FREEEE WiFi.... And better coffee.
Why are you guys even inquiring about this?
Nylo
kahri
Posted 7:00 AM 26/4/08
Damn, So not only is their coffee way more expensive than it needs to be, they also charge for a service that's free everywhere else. soon they'll be an "air tax" in starbucks. or "hot air tax".... ok that was bad but you get the point
kahri
matt buchanan
Posted 6:49 AM 26/4/08
@Nylo: Not everyone lives in Palo Alto? And in a lot of places, the sad fact is that Starbucks is the best coffee around.
matt buchanan
matt buchanan
Posted 6:48 AM 26/4/08
@dck47: You can continue to use it for the next couple years w/o issue per a roaming-like agreement, check the original announcement (linked in the post).
matt buchanan
MrBlahBlah
Posted 6:47 AM 26/4/08
@Nylo:
some of us don't have other options. asshole.
MrBlahBlah
shamoononon
Posted 7:05 AM 26/4/08
@matt buchanan: I beg to differ, what's the ratio of star bucks to 7-11 and corner gas stations... probably about 1, lol (i just really don't like their coffee).
shamoononon
matt buchanan
Posted 8:42 AM 26/4/08
@shamoononon: Pleeeease don't tell me gas station coffee is better. In NY, I have about a bajillion better options (Joe, Ninth St., Think, Gorilla, Grumpy, Gimme, etc.) but in the backwaters from whence I came, not so much. Like, just got a Starbucks there in the last 18 months or so.
matt buchanan
stopNgoBeau
Posted 8:40 AM 26/4/08
I can already use my AT&T DSL creds on the starbucks around the Baton Rouge area...and I don't even drink coffee, or any of the other crap drinks they serve.
stopNgoBeau
EnochLight
Posted 4:32 AM 28/4/08
1. Starbucks coffee blows. 2. Panera Bread's coffee is better (especially their IC Carmel/Mocha). 3. Panera Bread's WiFi is free for all.
Screw Starbucks.
EnochLight
MikeyMikeMike
Posted 4:09 AM 26/4/08
I live in Chicago and it's been available for a while now. There's a link for AT$T subscribers in the top right corner of the t-mobile log-in page. I've been able to log on with my DSL account info.
MikeyMikeMike