Starbucks finally joins the "Free Wifi" crowd.

[guyver01]

http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=397

Appearing at WIRED’s Business Conference Disruptive by Design today, Howard Schultz talked with WIRED’s Chris Anderson about “Evolving the Starbucks Experience in an Ever-changing World.” Schultz recounted the challenges of leading the Starbucks transformation following his return to the company as CEO in 2008. With a focus on lessons learned, Schultz’s talk included how the company sought to embrace social and digital media and continues to look for new ways to bridge the third place coffeehouse experience with the digital world.

As part of this commitment, Schultz recognized customers’ desire for a better in store Wi-Fi experience and announced that on July 1, Starbucks will turn on one-click, free Wi-Fi through AT&T in all U.S. company operated stores.

 

[Crono]

You mean they didn't have free wifi before?

 

[geno]

You mean they didn't have free wifi before?

Starbucks finally joins the "Free Wifi" crowd.

...

 

[SandEagle]

old. many starbucks around here already have free wifi

 

[Wyndru]

Awesome, now I can sit outside and look for shared picture folders on the all the college chicks laptops!

 

[CraigRT]

Crazy, I had no idea it wasn't free before..

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

this is really good news

More fucking spammers! Kill it with fire!

 

[Whisper]

Crazy, I had no idea it wasn't free before..

I think you might've technically been able to classify it as quasi-free in a roundabout way--as best I can remember, it required you to have a Starbucks card, and then to "activate" the card by signing up/logging into your account online.

Thus, while you had to somehow get the card initially, I don't think you actually needed to keep any money on it afterward for your wifi account to be active.

 

[Hacp]

I think you might've technically been able to classify it as quasi-free in a roundabout way--as best I can remember, it required you to have a Starbucks card, and then to "activate" the card by signing up/logging into your account online.

Thus, while you had to somehow get the card initially, I don't think you actually needed to keep any money on it afterward for your wifi account to be active.

I think if you bought a 2 dollar coffe you got 2 hours free with the Starbucks card. It was a pretty good compromise. This new policy is just asking to be abused.

 

[geno]

More fucking spammers! Kill it with fire!

Hey, cmon now, maybe someone really enjoyed my quotes and ellipses.

 

[amdhunter]

Alright - torrentsplz!

 

[Ciber]

Great, now all the poor people showing off their Mac will sit there all day leeching. Hope they will have a MAC filter with a timer.

 

[rudder]

You mean they didn't have free wifi before?

Well it was free... for only consecutive two hours per day. But with all the unemployed liberal arts majors that hang out as starbucks all day posting in the politics and news forums... that was not nearly enough. Not it is free ALL day!!!

 

[Babbles]

This will likely increase my consumption of Starbucks. If I want to get out of the house to do work I usually went to a Caribou Coffee or a Borders to use their free WiFi and intentionally did not go to Starbucks.

 

[ultimatebob]

I already had free Starbucks WiFi on my laptop and iPhone because I'm an at&t customer.

Now I'll have all of these other leeches slowing down my connection. Great

 

[her209]

Alright - torrentsplz!

LOL... torrents... LOL

 

[thepd7]

finally! I used to be an ATT customer so it was free but then I switched to cable internet. I can't understand any coffee shop not having free internet.

 

[PricklyPete]

http://news.starbucks.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=397

Appearing at WIRED’s Business Conference Disruptive by Design today, Howard Schultz talked with WIRED’s Chris Anderson about “Evolving the Starbucks Experience in an Ever-changing World.” Schultz recounted the challenges of leading the Starbucks transformation following his return to the company as CEO in 2008. With a focus on lessons learned, Schultz’s talk included how the company sought to embrace social and digital media and continues to look for new ways to bridge the third place coffeehouse experience with the digital world.

As part of this commitment, Schultz recognized customers’ desire for a better in store Wi-Fi experience and announced that on July 1, Starbucks will turn on one-click, free Wi-Fi through AT&T in all U.S. company operated stores.

It's about time.

 

[Babbles]

I already had free Starbucks WiFi on my laptop and iPhone because I'm an at&t customer.

Now I'll have all of these other leeches slowing down my connection. Great

So AT&T Starbucks customers are good and non-AT&T Starbucks customers are leaches. I didn't realize there was a hierarchy to being a Starbucks customer.