AT&T and Starbucks Begin Nationwide Wi-Fi Rollout

[Pete Paxton]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=25574' target='_blank'>http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?p...articleid=25574</a><br /><br /></div><em>&quot;AT&amp;T Inc. and Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced the beginning of the rollout of AT&amp;T Wi-FiSM service at company-operated Starbucks stores, kicking off a nationwide effort that will continue through 2008. At the 2008 AT&amp;T Inc. Annual Meeting of Stockholders in San Antonio, chairman and chief executive officer Randall Stephenson announced that the companies have already started the deployment of AT&amp;T Wi-Fi service at Starbucks locations in San Antonio, making it the first market to deliver the complete AT&amp;T Wi-Fi experience in the U.S.&quot;<br /><br /></em><img width="365" height="138" border="0" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/spt/auto/1209341639.usr11642.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />A while back we reported that AT&amp;T would be partnering up with Starbucks to offer WiFi. Well, that rollout is beginning. It's worked out great for me. I was with T-Mobile but I'm now with AT&amp;T. I can't wait for the rollout to extend to my area. The funny thing is that I don't use the WiFi very often in Starbucks but it's nice to know it's there when feel like it. How about you guys? Do you surf much at coffee shops? Are you happy it's coming to AT&amp;T or frustrated it's not going to be with T-Mobile any more? Or perhaps some of you think it's ridiculous to bother surfing at coffee shops. Let us know how you feel.

[Kacey Green]

Not bummed, but confused as to what I'm supposed to do as a T-mo customer when I'm trying to go wireless in a Starbux the intructions were posted a while ago but I don't remember where.

[adamz]

Starbucks will still be T-Mobile WiFi hotspots for at least 5 more years. They have a roaming agreement with AT&T. So even after Starbucks completes the transition to using AT&T as the WiFi provider, your T-Mobile Hotspot accounts will still work. In other words, it will not affect T-Mobile users at all.

[wfisher]

...will Wi-Fi at Starbucks be relevant? I've always resisted paying for Wi-Fi, and with plenty of free WiFi hotspots to choose from, and 3G+ already here, I'm wondering how much longer this pay service is going to be available...?

[flooder]

I find it unbelievable that Starbucks charges for WiFi Service. If every mom & pop coffee shop in small towns and small cities across america can offer WiFi for free, why does the big boy think they should be charging for this. This argument goes for all the McDonalds that are tied to Waypoint and most airports as well.

[Rocco Augusto]

I find it unbelievable that Starbucks charges for WiFi Service. If every mom & pop coffee shop in small towns and small cities across america can offer WiFi for free, why does the big boy think they should be charging for this. This argument goes for all the McDonalds that are tied to Waypoint and most airports as well.

Starbucks does a fantastic job at keeping customers in their stores for several hours at a time as well as encouraging their customers to stay and relax or work. This is something that companies like McDonalds and a lot of mom and pop shops haven't been able to accomplish... Than again, staying in McDonalds for several hours at a time would just wreck havok on anyones diet ;)

[Gavino1212]

Ok, I have a question, I switched from T-Mobile to AT&T and subscribe to AT&T's unlimited personal pda plan. Will I get wi-fi access as I did with T-Mo's hotspots? I have 3g on my Tilt, but how about my laptop? AT&T disabled the internet sharing function on the Tilt, so I can't just hook my laptop up and browse.

Will I get wi-fi on my laptop? Just curious.:D

[schmenge]

I find it unbelievable that Starbucks charges for WiFi Service. If every mom & pop coffee shop in small towns and small cities across america can offer WiFi for free, why does the big boy think they should be charging for this. This argument goes for all the McDonalds that are tied to Waypoint and most airports as well.


I don't think it is offered as part of AT&T's most basic plan, but most of their Internet plans provide access to all of the hot spots and Wayport in McDonald's (but not other Wayport locations to my knowledge) are in thier pool of available hot spots.