Starbucks Drops T-Mobile For AT&T

stoolpigeon writes "Ars reports that Starbucks is replacing T-Mobile with AT&T as their Wi-Fi provider. AT&T broadband customers will be able to access the service for free. Starbucks card users will get 2 hours a day free. 2-hour, daily, and monthly rates will be lower than they were with T-Mobile. Starbucks says that their previously announced deal to tie in with iTunes will continue under AT&T. For now AT&T isn't offering free Wi-Fi to iPhone users, but says it expects to accommodate them soon. Quoting the article: 'The companies didn't specify exactly when the rollout would begin, only saying that it would take place this spring... [The company plans] to install all new equipment at Starbucks as part of this agreement, so the changeover won't be as simple as flipping a switch.'"

Hooray?

[Arclight17]

If I want wireless while I'm out and about, I go to Panera or a local cafe that offers it for free....
So BFD if it changes!
I use http://www.wififreespot.com/ [wififreespot.com] to find free wifi when I'm away from home. (No, I don't work for them or get money for it :)

Re:Hooray?

[ScentCone]

If you RTFA, you'll see that people who use one of those Starbucks cards at the register (which you can fill by dropping some cash in it once in a while) will get 2 hours of no-extra-charge WiFi while they're there. Sure you can be a parasite at Panera without buying anything, but it's fairly bad form. Starbucks will get clobbered on bandwidth, but they'll sell some more coffee, and they'll earn a little interest on the $5 everyone will have sitting on those pre-loaded cards.

Re:As simple as flipping a switch

[russlar]

Speaking as a former barista, they don't know shit about the wi/fi, and are guided by strongly worded policies not to touch the equipment under any circumstances. Baristas are not usually technically inclined, at least in Boston/Cambridge. This will be done by AT&T techs.

wired at public library

[bzipitidoo]

Wireless is a pain, as connection problems are more difficult to diagnose than they should be. Problems could be not getting a good signal, authorization information is bad, or someone's configuration (yours or theirs) is wrong, and it is sometimes difficult to tell which of those it is thanks to lousy feedback to the users.

Public libraries are everywhere, not too difficult to find, and pretty much all of them have computers connected to the Internet. No guilt trip either for not buying anything. Downsides are libraries often have weird hours thanks to budget difficulties (will open late or close early on random days of the week), and the computers tend to be in demand so that sometimes there's a wait, and of course being public computers you can't and wouldn't want to do stuff like make a VPN connection to your employer's network. But I'd rather visit a library for a bit of surfing or a check of my web mail than hunt around for a wireless connection that works. Motels are pretty poor at running wireless. Down half the time, misconfigured, poor coverage, intermittent signal, etc. And they don't know what to do about it when they have problems, just have to wait whatever expert they've contracted can fix things.

Headline is completely wrong

[PitaBred]

According to TechDirt [techdirt.com] at least. Seems they're just going to allow a choice, rather than replace T-Mobile with AT&T. But why let the facts get in the way of a good headline...

I visited starbucks

[EEPROMS]

here in Sydney, I cant believe you guys call that crap coffee.

Re:Hooray?

[AKAImBatman]

TFA links here: https://www.starbucks.com/card/ [starbucks.com]

That's the pre-paid "gift" card, not the branded credit card. So unless Ars is confused (possible), wireless users may find themselves reloading their pre-paid cards on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Starbucks makes mucho-dinero on the "float" of the money.

FWIW, Starbucks often runs deals where you get a free bag of coffee beans if you load up your pre-paid card with $20. This is probably cheaper for them, and far more encouraging for their customers.

Re:As simple as flipping a switch

[Anonymous Coward]

As a current barista, I can vouch for what this person say is correct.

At the 3 locations I have worked, 2 have had the T-mobile wifi. They usually park the equipment 2/3's up on a 7 foot server mount with signs like "Property of T-mobile" and "Do not touch without permission from T-Mobile". The smartjack is usually 7+ foot high bolted on the wall, or at least it was at both of my stores.

I, however, know the T-mobile data plan rates, and warn customers... Well, I warn our regulars. They're our bread and butter ;)

Re:Hooray?

[Zemran]

any coffee shop worth spending any time in already has free wifi.

I am sitting in the coffee shop of the art gallery in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, using the free WiFi... Where is Starbucks? (O.K. we have got SB here but who needs it?). As you say, every decent coffee shop now has free WiFi...

Re:Headline is completely right

[node 3]

No, TechDirt is absolutely wrong.

From Starbucks [starbucks.com]:
In recognition of the many T-Mobile customers who enjoy visiting Starbucks, the Company is also announcing that T-Mobile HotSpot customers will be able to continue to access Wi-Fi services at no additional cost, through an agreement between AT&T and T-Mobile.

T-Mobile's hardware and network are being removed, and AT&T's are being installed. What's happened is AT&T and T-Mobile have a deal (probably at Starbucks' behest) to allow T-Mobile customers to access the AT&T hotspots in Starbucks.

But why let the facts get in the way of a good headline...

Indeed...

Re:I visited starbucks

[tuomoks]

Here in Seattle - come and smell the real coffee. But don't go to Starbucks, any corner has a better coffee shop and real cups. And who drinks coffee out of paper or plastic mug anyway?? This city is full of free wifi places, not much reason to pay. Maybe not as good as S.F. but getting there.

Re:Hooray?

[MightyYar]

In the US, the "minimum wage" for wait staff is actually lower than the minimum wage for everyone else because it is assumed that they will make their money with tips. They only make about $2/hr in wages - which is effectively nothing. Thus, not leaving a tip is like asking them to serve you for free. That is why we tip, even if the service is not excellent. Hot food delivered to my table is always worth SOMETHING, even if not the full 15-20%. Hell, in a diner or really low-cost place, I'll leave a lot more than 20% just because the food bill is so low that I don't know how the waitress will make any money, and I figure that they need it a lot more than I do. I always feel weird leaving a measly $1 tip on a $5 bill (say, coffee and a bagel) - but that's actually a really good tip by the 20% rule of thumb.