If you are among the legion of annoyed laptop toters who felt that the price to use Tmobile wifi at Starbucks was outrageous – particularly when there are so many coffee shops offering free wifi (and better coffee) these days – well, apparently Starbucks agrees with you.
Because Starbucks and AT&T have just announced that Starbucks has jumped ship from Tmobile, and is now going to be offering AT&T wifi in its 7000 locations.
This is not only a boon for Starbucks and AT&T, but also for Starbucks customers who want to avail themselves of wifi while sipping their Uber Grande Triple Half-Caff No Sugar Sludgeacinos.
Rather than paying T-mobile’s exorbitant rates ($6.00 hour, $10.00 per day, or $40.00 per month), Starbucks customers wishing to use the AT&T wifi will pay only $3.99 for 2 hours, or $19.99 for a month.
Better yet, if you have a Starbucks card – their credit-card sized plastic cards that you can pre-load with money – and if you load it with at least $5.00, and use it just once a month (i.e. at least once a month), the AT&T wifi access is free.
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Now that’s a heck of a deal!
Said Chris Bruzzo, CTO of Starbucks, “This is what our customers have been waiting for – free Starbucks-quality Wi-Fi. Through our new partnership with AT&T, we also welcome their millions of current customers who can now come in and enjoy free Wi-Fi as part of their daily Starbucks Experience.”
Bruzzo is referring to the fact that existing AT&T DSL, Fiber, and Business Remote Access customers will be able to use the AT&T wifi at Starbucks at no additional charge, as part of their package.
“People want to stay connected to their world 24/7, and Wi-Fi hot spots, broadband and wireless make that mobility possiblem,” explained Rick Welday, AT&T’s Consumer Division CMO. “Laptops and smartphones give us the online mobility we crave, and now millions of AT&T and Starbucks customers will get Internet access free from the comfort of their neighborhood Starbucks.”
The switch to AT&T at Starbucks locations will take place on a market-by-market basis, beginning this spring.
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The Internet Patrol is and always has been free. We don't hide our articles behind a paywall, or restrict the number of articles you can read in a month if you don't give us money. That said, it does cost us money to run the site, so if something you read here was helpful or useful, won't you consider donating something to help keep the Internet Patrol free? |
