iPad at starbucks. how to use wifi...

[tivoboy]

open

What is pretty crazy is, I haven't had to input ANY information at my local two starbucks. the device connects via attwifi and it just works.

It has me thinking the following:

All iphones are at&t (essentially)
all at&t iphone customers get free wifi at at&t hotspots
all iphones automatically authenticate at at&t hotspots
all ipads use iphone OS

could it BE that at&t simply sees the device as an "iphone" and automatically authenticates it?

I simply cannot imagine that the at&t wifi hotspots are doing actual subscriber authentication for the iphone users each and everytime.

 

[CPD_1]

I'm not going to go through the argument of local coffee shops vs. chain shops, because that's not what this thread is about.


1. Starbucks offers free WiFi to the following customers: AT&T data/internet subscribers, registered card holders. There are additional benefits to having a registered card. These can be found here.

2. Many local coffee shops leave their WiFi connections open as a benefit to their customers. I can't speak to everyone's personal situation, but in the Portland area I can name a half dozen coffee shops that conform to this unspoken standard.

3. In both cases, it's important to follow some basic etiquette. Order something. If you plan on being there for a half-hour or more, it should probably go without saying that you should try not to take up too much seating (i.e. being a single person sitting at a table intended for multiple guests), unless you have food or are ordering refills regularly. You want these businesses to continue to offer you the convenience which they've extended.

 

[Surely]

What is pretty crazy is, I haven't had to input ANY information at my local two starbucks. the device connects via attwifi and it just works.

It has me thinking the following:

All iphones are at&t (essentially)
all at&t iphone customers get free wifi at at&t hotspots
all iphones automatically authenticate at at&t hotspots
all ipads use iphone OS

could it BE that at&t simply sees the device as an "iphone" and automatically authenticates it?

I simply cannot imagine that the at&t wifi hotspots are doing actual subscriber authentication for the iphone users each and everytime.

Are your two local Starbucks inside a Barnes and Nobles or another similar business? The wifi doesn't work the same at those kind of Starbucks'..... you don't need to log in at those places. It just works.

I've already tried entering in my AT&T phone number on my iPad at a Starbucks. I'm probably going to be at one this afternoon, so I'll give it a try again. I know that the 2-3 times I've been at a Starbucks with my iPad, I've had to log in. The internet didn't just work.

I'm not going to go through the argument of local coffee shops vs. chain shops, because that's not what this thread is about.


1. Starbucks offers free WiFi to the following customers: AT&T data/internet subscribers, registered card holders. There are additional benefits to having a registered card. These can be found here.

2. Many local coffee shops leave their WiFi connections open as a benefit to their customers. I can't speak to everyone's personal situation, but in the Portland area I can name a half dozen coffee shops that conform to this unspoken standard.

3. In both cases, it's important to follow some basic etiquette. Order something. If you plan on being there for a half-hour or more, it should probably go without saying that you should try not to take up too much seating (i.e. being a single person sitting at a table intended for multiple guests), unless you have food or are ordering refills regularly. You want these businesses to continue to offer you the convenience which they've extended.

Absolutely agree.

And good summary, except in point #1, you left out that in the US, AT&T iPhone users also have free wifi access on their iPhones.

 

[Eye4Desyn]

If you use AT&T for your home internet service, you have free access to all AT&T hot spots, including Starbucks.

All current U-verse DSL internet subscribers this is true. Just login in with your main U-verse email account when you are at the WiFi hot spot. That simple.

 

[tivoboy]

nope

surely,

no, these are regular company starbucks, where I ALWAYS have to login with my ATT DSL id, or my starbucks card login, both of which I have, but have't done with the ipad.

 

[Surely]

surely,

no, these are regular company starbucks, where I ALWAYS have to login with my ATT DSL id, or my starbucks card login, both of which I have, but have't done with the ipad.

Thanks for the response...... interesting.

Well, I'm interested in seeing what happens when I go later today (if I go). There's another Starbucks near that Starbucks (of course there is), so maybe I'll see what happens at that one as well.....


I know that the last couple of times at my local Starbucks, when I first opened Safari and tried to go to a page, it redirected me to the Starbucks Login Page.

 

[CPD_1]

Also, since I have nowhere else to share this: free brewed coffee at all Starbucks today if you take your own cup.

 

[danny_w]

surely,

no, these are regular company starbucks, where I ALWAYS have to login with my ATT DSL id, or my starbucks card login, both of which I have, but have't done with the ipad.

I was at a Starbucks last night with my iPad and I had to login with my AT&T DSL account info.

 

[writerprocrasti]

I know the last reply in this thread was in 2010, but hey, I found this via a google search so someone else will.

The starbucks stores I frequent do not require an iPhone, an AT&T customer, or any kind of logging in to access wi-fi for free. If you have an iPad, a toshiba laptop, a samsung laptop or any other brand, you can use the internet free.

You open Safari or your browser, and it takes you to that Starbucks page: a simple page where you check a box that says you agree to terms and then log in. Then, you're all set, good to go, no time limits, 2, 4, 6 hours, whatever.

Now, this may have changed since 2010, but this is the case for every Starbucks I have been to.

And as far as why someone would stay longer than 2 hours, at the Starbucks here in LA, people sometimes stay for 4 hours. Not only do tons of college kids bring in their study material, but screenwriters and "aspiring screenwriters" such as myself stay there. The baristas don't mind since many customers are regulars and we buy plenty of drinks. It's annoying when the smaller Starbucks stores are full, but at least in LA, there's a Starbucks on every corner and a few of them are huge with at least 10 tables and a patio outside.

That said, the wi-fi predictably sucks since it's a public hotspot. But hey, it's better than Whole Foods wi-fi where the connection is so slow that you can't view any videos.

Barnes and Nobles is a great study spot too, but since it's not officially a Starbucks store, you can't use Starbucks gift or gold cards.

Are your two local Starbucks inside a Barnes and Nobles or another similar business? The wifi doesn't work the same at those kind of Starbucks'..... you don't need to log in at those places. It just works.

I've already tried entering in my AT&T phone number on my iPad at a Starbucks. I'm probably going to be at one this afternoon, so I'll give it a try again. I know that the 2-3 times I've been at a Starbucks with my iPad, I've had to log in. The internet didn't just work.



Absolutely agree.

And good summary, except in point #1, you left out that in the US, AT&T iPhone users also have free wifi access on their iPhones.

----------

I agree with #3. See my post above as well..things may have changed. Any one can access Starbucks wi-fi without using any card.

I'm not going to go through the argument of local coffee shops vs. chain shops, because that's not what this thread is about.


1. Starbucks offers free WiFi to the following customers: AT&T data/internet subscribers, registered card holders. There are additional benefits to having a registered card. These can be found here.

2. Many local coffee shops leave their WiFi connections open as a benefit to their customers. I can't speak to everyone's personal situation, but in the Portland area I can name a half dozen coffee shops that conform to this unspoken standard.

3. In both cases, it's important to follow some basic etiquette. Order something. If you plan on being there for a half-hour or more, it should probably go without saying that you should try not to take up too much seating (i.e. being a single person sitting at a table intended for multiple guests), unless you have food or are ordering refills regularly. You want these businesses to continue to offer you the convenience which they've extended.

 

[Surely]

I know the last reply in this thread was in 2010, but hey, I found this via a google search so someone else will.

The starbucks stores I frequent do not require an iPhone, an AT&T customer, or any kind of logging in to access wi-fi for free. If you have an iPad, a toshiba laptop, a samsung laptop or any other brand, you can use the internet free.

You open Safari or your browser, and it takes you to that Starbucks page: a simple page where you check a box that says you agree to terms and then log in. Then, you're all set, good to go, no time limits, 2, 4, 6 hours, whatever.

Now, this may have changed since 2010, but this is the case for every Starbucks I have been to.

And as far as why someone would stay longer than 2 hours, at the Starbucks here in LA, people sometimes stay for 4 hours. Not only do tons of college kids bring in their study material, but screenwriters and "aspiring screenwriters" such as myself stay there. The baristas don't mind since many customers are regulars and we buy plenty of drinks. It's annoying when the smaller Starbucks stores are full, but at least in LA, there's a Starbucks on every corner and a few of them are huge with at least 10 tables and a patio outside.

That said, the wi-fi predictably sucks since it's a public hotspot. But hey, it's better than Whole Foods wi-fi where the connection is so slow that you can't view any videos.

Barnes and Nobles is a great study spot too, but since it's not officially a Starbucks store, you can't use Starbucks gift or gold cards.

This has changed since 2010. Starbucks no longer requires you to pay for wifi use, and no longer has a 2 hour time limit. They announced this change in policy in June of 2010, and enacted it in July of 2010.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/06/starbucks-announces-free-wi-fi-proprietary-content-network/


I don't see the point of digging up an old thread without properly researching the topic. It took me all of 3 seconds to do a google search to find the above link.

 

[gemnilocs]

Depends on the Starbucks. The ones that are around me are nice and comfortable. One of them has a great patio.

Plus, I live near UCLA, so plenty of female college students around....


For me, the 3G iPad is a waste of money.

hey I work at the UCLA Med. Ctr!! did you preorder or are you taking the chance to get the new one in the stores surrounding? I am just wondering how it was for the 2 last year since we do have a few options in that area. thanks