Comments on Today in Coffee and Internets

A vastly underreported detail is that, at least for the next couple years, TMO Wifi customers can still use those spots on their plans.

I just had the link to the PR at starbucks.com that explicitly says this, but it looks like Starbucks just got Slogdotted.

That's the thing: I think there are so many Starbuckses around that them providing free access would amount to providing free access for entire commercial districts. There are four of five of them in every major commercial district in Seattle. Geeks with laptops would cluster up around those things like lampreys on a whale shark and bleed the signal down to nothing.

http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=826

So why not just go to Tully's instead and get the free, unrestricted WiFi access Anthony is talking about?

In Seattle I think you're crazy not to offer free wi-fi, because if you don't want to pay (or even sign in) all you have to do is cross the street to the other cafe. But out in flyover country, it's a different story. As you drive through a lot of small and medium sized towns, often the only wi-fi to be had is Starbucks. So why would they need to give it away for free out there? I guess when you're a giant chain you have to be standardized instead of adapting to local circumstances.

@2 - Yeah, this is true. What I would propose is that they give you an access key when you buy something, and change it every few hours. This would amount to "free with purchase" and not entirely free, but I got no problem with that. I suppose by using their cards, they're accomplishing kind of the same thing--I imagine they'll use the card's code to let you on the network, so that's alright. I'd rather not have to have a card, though.

Don't forget that people who use AT&T as their ISP get access to Starbucks WIFI all free, all the time. Not a bonus for those of you in Verizon-having Washington, but for me in Illinois, this means basically free* WIFI everywhere I go.

*Except the cost of my home internet access, of course.

Forgot to ask, does Free include AT&T Mobility subscribers? Probably, but I don't want to read the article or research.

It's about time. It's fully 80% of the reason I don't visit Starbucks.

So many other similar non-corporate coffee shops have internet, I never visit them in Seattle.

This will be a huge bonus in other parts of the country. I just hope that all the airport Starbucks also convert to this plan.

I didn't see if this was indeed the case. Did anyone catch that detail?

Pretty much every independent coffee shop in Seattle has free wi-fi. This has been one reason I've rarely set foot in a Starbucks for the last couple of years. I still like my favorite independents, but now at least I don't have to completely shun Starbucks if that's all that's convenient. Their fees for wi-fi always seemed like a gouge to me. The card thing is a minor inconvenience, but I can live with it.

AT&T's a much better choice. T Mobile's on its way down the toilet, and Starbucks knows it.

What's a little Unconstitutional Unwarranted Illegal spying on American citizens between friends?

Perfect. I always had free internet and calling on my BlackBerry at Starbucks because of the T-Mobile Hotspot thing. Now there's no reason whatsoever for me to drink their ashtray-flavored water.

@11 What are you basing that on? T-Mobile's customer service is consistently ranked among the best in the industry, and their plans are less expensive. Last year they passed 25M subscribers and bought SunCom for $2.4B. HotSpot@Home is awesome, and as far as I know, unmatched by anything AT&T offers currently. They may not be as big as AT&T, but in my experience the service is far better. I wouldn't switch to AT&T if you paid me. Maybe if you paid me a lot.

Starbucks is more on its way down the toilet than T-Mo.