Starbucks dumps T-Mobile for AT&T Wi-Fi
Posted
Feb 11 2008, 04:23 PM
by
Kim Peterson
Rating:
AT&T gets another win today. Starbucks is ditching T-Mobile and going with AT&T for its customer Wi-Fi service at 7,000 locations.
People who have a Starbucks prepaid gift card can get two hours of free Wi-Fi per day at Starbucks. Glenn Fleishman confirms that you can buy and activate a card, and then get free Wi-Fi from that day forward. Most of AT&T's broadband and U-verse customers will also have free access, but AT&T wireless customers (including iPhone users) won't get the same deal.
Surprisingly, the per-hour Wi-Fi fees will drop under AT&T to $4 for two hours or $20 per month for unlimited access. (T-Mobile used to charge $6 an hour).
The switchover will start this spring and gradually roll out on a city-by-city basis. And fear not, T-Mobile customers: you'll still be able to access Starbucks' Wi-Fi, because Starbucks likes your business too.
So Starbucks keeps customers happy and gets another way to push its prepaid cards. AT&T vastly expands its hotspot network. People will pay less for Wi-Fi access, and T-Mobile customers aren't left out in the cold.
Update: For everyone who is saying the headline of this post is misleading and that Starbucks isn't dumping T-Mobile, let me clarify. Starbucks has ended its six-year agreement with T-Mobile. AT&T is installing all new equipment at Starbucks, replacing the previous T-Mobile setup. AT&T reached a roaming agreement with T-Mobile to allow T-Mobile customers to access its network for free for the next five years. In case you still have any doubt that Starbucks has dumped T-Mobile, maybe the following stories will help:
Starbucks Ditches T-Mobile USA, Goes with AT&T as New Wi-Fi Partner
Starbucks Ditches T-Mobile
Starbucks Dumps T-Mobile and Climbs into Bed with AT&T
Starbucks Ditches T-Mobile for AT&T
