Starbucks dumps T-Mobile for AT&T Wi-Fi - Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
 
Search Top Stocks:

Starbucks dumps T-Mobile for AT&T Wi-Fi

Posted Feb 11 2008, 04:23 PM by Kim Peterson
Rating:
Filed under: , , ,

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

 


 

Back to Top Stocks Digg this | Email this | Link to this
Comments

 

Nobody cares what you think Star Jacobsen, the cell phone business is all about sales, you got sold, get your pannies out of a bunch(if you wear them) and realize you should have made a better choice when choosing your service carrier.  Remember you went to that t-mobile store, they didn't come to you!

UGOTSOLD (Posted 02.11.08 6:45 PM) Report Abuse

I have a laptop with wireless access and I will never pay for wi-fi

JJ (Posted 02.11.08 6:46 PM) Report Abuse

AT&T rolled over for the Bush regime.  T-Mobile told them to take a hike.  Hey ya'll go outside and see what you are missing

Kansas (Posted 02.11.08 6:47 PM) Report Abuse

Just 10 years ago we didn't even have Wi-Fi.....and our parents didn't even have the internet....AND THEY SURVIVED!!

Just love the fact that people actually think stuff that costs money should be free!?!?! Healthcare, WiFi, etc....wow....

Tater (Posted 02.11.08 6:47 PM) Report Abuse

Starbucks get with the times. Wi-Fi is free in most places. Be happy that I pay the $5 for coffee and give me the Wi-Fi. Stop making DEAL$ with phone companies thast YOU benefit from.

notonline (Posted 02.11.08 6:48 PM) Report Abuse

Wow, Starbucks is starting to act like a responsible business - now they giving AT&T an opportunity to rip us off after we pay $2.50 for a less-than-average cup of coffee. Too bad their Baristas cannot get a cut. Howard needs to get a clue and ask us what we really want.

SB is going down (Posted 02.11.08 6:48 PM) Report Abuse

Todd have you ever been in a Starbucks? the prices they get for coffee snacks should be free with it ( once the server is installed and running it cost about $ 2.50 per day to run it. They wonder why their customer based has dropped. I know I stopped going there once they went to T-Mobile WIFI. So have alot of others

cre8ive one (Posted 02.11.08 6:50 PM) Report Abuse

All I know is that I already pay ATT $1.99 per month for wi-fi access for my laptop. If Starbucks is going to charge me as well, then forget that mess. I can go to any Barnes and Noble store and get access for free (other than the $1.99/month). Currently, they are the biggest chain I know of that offer ATT wi-fi and it's free to any ATT customers that suscibe to ATT wi-fi. I also agree that the above article is very confusing and pretty usless. It could have been writen much more clear.

CJ (Posted 02.11.08 6:50 PM) Report Abuse

Why would you go to Starbucksto begin with? Only a fool would buy what they are selling.

Moe (Posted 02.11.08 6:51 PM) Report Abuse

Absolutely crazy to pay for wi-fi as we are already paying premium prices for the starbucks "experience". I generally go to Panera Bread instead of Starbucks whenver I need to browse outside of office and home.

Starbucks...Please listen to your customers.

Ray (Posted 02.11.08 6:51 PM) Report Abuse

First < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > Last

Send a Comment

Comments must be directly related to the blog entry. Comments with offensive language will be deleted. Your e-mail address won't be displayed.

(please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):