AT&T Now Providing Wifi Access at Starbucks

[superfula]

Not at Starbucks, but I was asking about current AT&T hotspots. Free for iPhones at present?

No.

Starbucks purchase card
https://www.starbucks.com/card/default.asp?cookie_test=1&fav_test=1

It's really just a gift card. A lot of people I know use them to budget their addiction. They'll add $30 to the card at the beginning of the month. When the $30 is gone, no more Bux for them the rest of the month.

 

[Unspeaked]

The purchase in question would be coffee

Currently, with T-Mobile, you buy your coffee AND pay $6 per hour ($6 minimum) for WiFi

Are you sure about this? Because it doesn't read that way to me...

 

[joemama]

Do people really hang out at Starbucks that long to peruse the Internet?

Get your coffee and go, people. If I'm "hanging" at a coffee shop, it's because I'm there with someone, and I'm socializing with them. Not putt-sing around the web.

Am I missing something here?

 

[aristobrat]

theres only 7000 starbucks

Not every location offers WiFi.

Currently, with T-Mobile, you buy your coffee AND pay $6 per hour ($6 minimum) for WiFi

Only if you chose to pay by the hour. Both T-Mobile and AT&T have monthly plans that allows unlimited access at Starbucks and other HotSpot locations.

So what's a "Starbucks purchase card"? And if you have to buy it, how is this "free wireless"?

It's a gift card. The card is free. You "load it" with money that you can later use to pay for your Starbucks coffee.

 

[tothelimit]

Not at Starbucks, but I was asking about current AT&T hotspots. Free for iPhones at present?

ohh...
I'm pretty certain they are not free for iPhone users. The Barnes & Noble near my house is an AT&T hotspot and I can't access it for free from my iPhone - it prompts for a username/pw or asks me to purchase time.

sorry for the misunderstanding

 

[Robbadore64]

I couldn't agree more. I don't understand why Starbucks is such a dinosaur in this arena. I don't go to Starbucks because their coffee is horrible, so it doesn't really affect me a whole lot, but it's just weird that they charge for wifi. They're the only ones that I know of in these parts (Columbus, OH) that do.

Dave S.

Ditto. I haven't been to one in years and am glad I haven't recently expecting free wifi. I think this is laughable when we have so many free places these days. Oh well, guess I'm not classy enough to afford coffee AND internet at the same time. Seriously, I think even the Kystals down my street has free wifi now.

 

[clayj]

Can someone define "Starbucks Card holders"? Does that mean I just have to get a Starbucks card and load a few bucks on it? Or is this referring to the Starbucks credit card (Duetto, I think?)? I'd love to have free WiFi at Starbucks on my iPhone... it would definitely be an inducement to visit there more often, because EDGE is sloooooooow.

 

[chrisgeleven]

Kinda interesting, if AT&T is going to offer free wifi for iPhone users at Starbucks, that would seem to suggest that AT&T will give free wifi to iPhone users at its other hotspots.

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

Nope. I don't think it will ever be "free", but you'll probably see it rolled into some sort of plan.

Not at Starbucks, but I was asking about current AT&T hotspots. Free for iPhones at present?

 

[tuneman07]

I could have sworn Starbucks already offered free WiFi- the one at the bookstore near my house does, as does another one a little farther away. McDonalds and Panera also offer free WiFi so I don't see why Starbucks can't. I assumed they already did.

 

[BrownManUPS]

Yesssss this is amazing. I love the fact that AT&T broadband customers get free access. That is a great perk.

 

[joefinan]

Starbucks have 7000 stores in the US??????

Is coffee really that fantastic?!

 

[Unspeaked]

I could have sworn Starbucks already offered free WiFi- the one at the bookstore near my house does, as does another one a little farther away. McDonalds and Panera also offer free WiFi so I don't see why Starbucks can't. I assumed they already did.

If you're getting free wifi at Starbucks, you're either picking it up from somewhere else or paying for the T-Mobile hotspot access without realizing it...

 

[tothelimit]

Starbucks have 7000 stores in the US??????

Is coffee really that fantastic?!

Yeah - I just reread that number ... 7000 stores is pretty crazy.

I'm a tea drinker though.

 

[xenotaku]

I might finally have a reason to buy an overpriced bad tasting coffee...Or at least a reason to sit in a store where other people are buying overpriced bad tasting coffee while I'm getting on the Net for free

 

[aristobrat]

Ditto. I haven't been to one in years and am glad I haven't recently expecting free wifi. I think this is laughable when we have so many free places these days. Oh well, guess I'm not classy enough to afford coffee AND internet at the same time. Seriously, I think even the Kystals down my street has free wifi now.

If you could pop into one of the many "I just bought an iPod Touch and can't find any free WiFi access around my area" threads and help those people out, they'd really appreciate it.

Apparently "free WiFi" isn't easy to find in most areas.

 

[PlaceofDis]

Yeah - I just reread that number ... 7000 stores is pretty crazy.

I'm a tea drinker though.

they sell tea too. although not the best imo.

 

[Le Big Mac]

No.

Starbucks purchase card
https://www.starbucks.com/card/default.asp?cookie_test=1&fav_test=1

It's really just a gift card. A lot of people I know use them to budget their addiction. They'll add $30 to the card at the beginning of the month. When the $30 is gone, no more Bux for them the rest of the month.

So is there any reason why I couldn't buy a $10 gift card, use that for a login, and then never use the card? (Or use it extremely sporadically)? Not that I'd want to hang at a starbucks without drinking anything, but in downtown DC that might as well be wifi everywhere.

 

[koobcamuk]

I don't think this is front page material.

 

[happydude]

fantastic news!!! only 3 more days to go for me!!!

 

[tothelimit]

they sell tea too. although not the best imo.

yeah - their tea is not very good at all.

I much prefer Teavana.

 

[Unspeaked]

they sell tea too. although not the best imo.

So it matches their coffee, then?

So is there any reason why I couldn't buy a $10 gift card, use that for a login, and then never use the card? (Or use it extremely sporadically)? Not that I'd want to hang at a starbucks without drinking anything, but in downtown DC that might as well be wifi everywhere.

I still don't think people are reading this correctly. I doubt it's a gift card they're referring to.

At the very least, as someone up-thread speculated, it's the Starbucks VISA card.

 

[BigMacIain]

It's about time...

...that Starbucks stopped charging for wifi usage. That would be like them charging for cream and sugar.

 

[riverfreak]

'Bout time

Starbucks has something like 8000 stores worldwide, most of which are in the U.S. They had plans to expand to up to 40,000 stores worldwide but have scaled that back because of lackluster sales.

It might not seem like it, but Starbucks is dying. It's lost its soul. Their espresso drinks aren't even made by hand anymore. They need to do something, and free wireless is just the tip of the iceberg.

I know in other parts of the world, free wireless is not the norm. Just try finding a free wifi spot in Germany for example, it's nearly impossible. T-Mobile has a complete stranglehold on that place. I don't understand why independent cafes, coffee shops and bars there don't offer free access, but that's another thread.

In most cities and towns across the U.S., free access is the rule not the exception. Starbucks needs to embrace this or continue to decline in market relevance. I hope their move to AT&T signals a step in the right direction.

 

[PlaceofDis]

yeah - their tea is not very good at all.

I much prefer Teavana.

Teavana isn't bad. Republic of Tea is my fav though. and mighty leaf is up there too.

So it matches their coffee, then?

pretty much, but i don't drink their coffee either.

i'm more of an espresso person, and while theirs isn't the best either its 'good enough' when i'm in a rush.