T-Mobile Sues Starbucks Over Free Wi-Fi Deal

Glenn Fleishman writes "T-Mobile sent me the text of a lawsuit they filed yesterday against Starbucks. The telecom firm alleges that Starbucks didn't involve it in any discussions to launch their free loyalty program Wi-Fi service this week with AT&T. AT&T is gradually taking over hot-spot operation from T-Mobile, market by market over the course of 2008. T-Mobile told me Starbucks is essentially giving away something that isn't theirs. T-Mobile has sued to halt the two-hours-a-day of free service, and is asking for money to cover losses. This might sound like sour grapes, but T-Mobile still operates most of the network, and says that the terms to which they agreed with Starbucks and AT&T for the transition and with AT&T for bilateral roaming don't cover this situation at all. Maybe free access in exchange for buying a cup of joe every 30 days was too good to be true (this soon)."

sent text?

[Anonymous Coward]

T-Mobile sent me the text of a lawsuit they filed yesterday

Just wait, they'll charge you 50 cents for that too.

Re:Hmmm

[austexmonkey]

'Thanks' for the 'explanation'. I've often 'wondered' how 'free wifi' 'worked' in 'restaurants' and the 'like'. I 'find' it surprising that 'satellite' is still used for 'inventory' 'systems'.

Re:Does anyone actually Care

[Anonymous Coward]

I do not do T-Mobile or Starbucks. How is this even close to Nerd News?

It involves caffeine and computers, how would it not be interesting to nerds? What we have here is a Pringles can full of burnt coffee causing a failure to communicate.

Re:Hmmm

[maxume]

I'm normally all for the tiresome parsing of other people's statements in ways that they clearly did not intend, but you are really pushing it here.

Re:Hmmm

[Zero__Kelvin]

I have no idea what you are doing here. You should be off having sex with animals, which - by your argument - the law has been allowing you to do for years now. (See parents SlashID and E-Mail address if this sounds like it comes from the ether.)

Re:hmm

[iknowcss]

LOL what's a demographic?

Sent from my iPhone