AT&T, Starbucks Deal Might Mean Free Wi-Fi For iPhone, Touch Users

Edward Kirk · February 11th, 2008, 06:31 PM

Starbucks recently struck a deal with AT&T that might be to the benefit of iPhone and iPod touch users that frequent their retail loactions. They said Monday that they would be changing their network hotspot provider from T-Mobile, their long-time partner, to AT&T, that will be free of charge to subscribers of the AT&T network.

The hotspots will be available at 7,000 Starbucks at no cost to AT&T's 12 million U-Verse DSL subscribers, 100,000 Starbucks employees, and even T-Mobile HotSpot subscribers. Other customers wanting to use the service will have to get a Starbucks card and pay for the service.

They will charge $3.95 for two hoursâ€™ access or a monthly unlimited usage plan via AT&T is $19.95.

There's no word yet on access for the iPhone or iPod touch or their owners, but given the deals between Starbucks, Apple, and AT&T, chances of free access are good.

Of course, things do get more complicated in the cases of customers carrying multiple Wi-Fi devices, such as an iPhone and a MacBook.

[via Macworld]

agent6998 · February 11th, 2008, 09:15 PM #2

Woot! I have U-Verse. I hope this happens cuz I seriously want to have internet when I go to Starbucks. Hell no am I paying for T-Mobile access.

chr1s60 · February 12th, 2008, 02:03 AM #3

This would be a welcome improvement.

imagine engine · February 12th, 2008, 10:03 AM

With their price on lattes, etc Starbucks can afford to offer free WIFI to their customers. Whether traveling across Canada or to the USA I've noticed several cafes now provide free WIFI but Starbucks still charges for the service.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Edward Kirk WrAdminterizer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 3,084 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	AT&T, Starbucks Deal Might Mean Free Wi-Fi For iPhone, Touch Users - February 11th, 2008, 06:31 PM #1
	Starbucks recently struck a deal with AT&T that might be to the benefit of iPhone and iPod touch users that frequent their retail loactions. They said Monday that they would be changing their network hotspot provider from T-Mobile, their long-time partner, to AT&T, that will be free of charge to subscribers of the AT&T network. The hotspots will be available at 7,000 Starbucks at no cost to AT&T's 12 million U-Verse DSL subscribers, 100,000 Starbucks employees, and even T-Mobile HotSpot subscribers. Other customers wanting to use the service will have to get a Starbucks card and pay for the service. They will charge $3.95 for two hoursâ€™ access or a monthly unlimited usage plan via AT&T is $19.95. There's no word yet on access for the iPhone or iPod touch or their owners, but given the deals between Starbucks, Apple, and AT&T, chances of free access are good. Of course, things do get more complicated in the cases of customers carrying multiple Wi-Fi devices, such as an iPhone and a MacBook. [via Macworld] __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: iPhone 3G 16GB White iPhone Version: 3.0 Computer & OS: MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X 10.5.4 Twitter

agent6998 Rocks the Board Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Beirut, Lebanon Posts: 194 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	February 11th, 2008, 09:15 PM #2
	Woot! I have U-Verse. I hope this happens cuz I seriously want to have internet when I go to Starbucks. Hell no am I paying for T-Mobile access.

chr1s60 Forum Ninja Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 119 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	February 12th, 2008, 02:03 AM #3
	This would be a welcome improvement.

imagine engine Rocks the Board Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 184 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Starbucks can afford it. - February 12th, 2008, 10:03 AM #4
	With their price on lattes, etc Starbucks can afford to offer free WIFI to their customers. Whether traveling across Canada or to the USA I've noticed several cafes now provide free WIFI but Starbucks still charges for the service. __________________ SOHO: Maya, Mudbox, Toxik, FCS 3, iLife 09, iWork 09, Office, TC 1TB, iPhone 3G.