Starbucks Coffee offers free Wifi

Posted on February 14, 2008
Filed Under Business |

After a 6-year partnership with T-mobile, Starbucks is trying to entice customers with a lower-priced Wi-Fi by using AT&T as its wireless provider. And it’s a big difference in cost. I have been using T-Mobile the past 5 years and I will be candid about their service. They are good, however $6 to $9.99 an hour did seem outrageous to me. With AT&T Wireless, Starbucks will offer a great deal with 2 hours of free wireless access a day. Additional time will cost $3.99 for a two-hour session. This will definitely bring in the much needed traffic at Starbucks and its a win-win for both, Starbucks and AT&T.

All of AT&T’s 12 million customers will automatically have unlimited wireless access at Starbucks and moreover it will increase AT&T’s hot spots in the USA to 17,000 - that would be the highest for any wireless hotspot provider. And another neat feature that Starbucks has provided for its customers, is the ability to use Starbucks gift cards to purchase Wi-Fi service. With the Starbucks stock taking a beating and down 40% in 2007, the company is probably hoping to increase sales at it’s stores by enticing them with free internet.

Comments

Leave a Reply