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Starbucks offers new flavor: Free Wi-Fi

usatoday.com — Thirsty for more business during the worst slump in its history, Starbucks will try to lure more customers by offering two hours of free AT&T Wi-Fi a day.

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  • louiebaur, on 06/03/2008, -4/+17That is one more way to get people to come in and pound coffee and get stuff done for sure
    • Mootabolife, on 06/04/2008, -2/+20Not a bad way to hack without getting caught either.
      • mal1964, on 06/04/2008, -0/+15A hacker needing to use free wifi at Starbucks to hack?
        • Mootabolife, on 06/04/2008, -2/+9Nah, but the coffee doesn't hurt.
      • havocjaw, on 06/04/2008, -0/+0Yeah, I'm sure I will be seeing you at "The Last Hope"

        ::refer convention, NYC this month
    • mal1964, on 06/04/2008, -1/+3No brainier!
    • hobbeszero, on 06/04/2008, -0/+36Or I could go to the local coffee shop which always has free wi-fi without all the annoying steps. If you want to provide a service for your customers don't half-ass it.
      • JaredXM, on 06/04/2008, -0/+13Yeah my local coffee shop has had free wi-fi ever since it opened. Plus a lot better product.
      • farfromsubtl, on 06/04/2008, -0/+6Agreed. Unless your community is seriously lacking in quality coffee shops, there isn't much of a reason to hit a Starbucks.
        • KibibyteBrain, on 06/04/2008, -0/+7Unfortunately, you are describing most communities in the United States.
      • edwartica, on 06/04/2008, -0/+5My thoughts exactly. And that way I actually get decent coffee. Besides, they don't care how long I use it either, 20 minutes, 8 hours, as long as I buy something every so often.
      • rpgmaker, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Which steps?
        • BossKey, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Starbucks requires you to sign in, which requires providing your personal information first. In addition, you are required to use a Starbucks loyalty card, and if it's been too many days since your last Starbucks purchase, you're required to make a purchase, and even then, you're required to log off after 2 hours. That's a lotta requirements.

          At the dozens of independent, non-Starbucks coffee houses in my area, none of that is required. Just buy a coffee, have a seat, and join the network. In our public library system, you just need to walk in the door, you don't even need a library card to get on the network! I know that Starbucks is the only game in town in a lot of communities, but in many big cities there is no reason to submit to the Starbucks information-gathering apparatus just to use the Internet.
    • thatsmyaibo, on 06/04/2008, -0/+19I'll stick to McDonald's kick ass ice coffee and free Wi-Fi. Hell the one by my house even has a "business zone" for people 18 years and older. No kids, cheap delicious caffeine, free Wi-Fi...it's better than my house.
      • mal1964, on 06/04/2008, -0/+9Dude!, It was the best secret in town.
      • hpcjosh, on 06/04/2008, -0/+5Man none of the McDonald's have wifi where i live.... then again if you brought your mac book to my McDonald's you'll probably get jacked.
        • mal1964, on 06/04/2008, -0/+5The one by my house has a plasma TV leather couches and chairs it nice. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up a 1/2 later.
        • laughandsing, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Are you for serious?
      • KibibyteBrain, on 06/04/2008, -0/+5Panera has always been good too for free Wi-Fi. And Panera's free wifi seems to be nation wide, while McDonalds' is only free in certain regions.
        • hpcjosh, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3Panera is awesome~! but way too far from where I live to be worth it just for wifi. meh I have my neighbors and school wifi even if its filtered. (which i can just hack right through) dugg for Panera
    • jakatak, on 06/04/2008, -1/+12The problem is greed. Mcdonald's puts out a better coffee than Starbucks for half the price and ALL the Mcdonald's around here are offering WiFi for free for as long as you want.

      Starbucks is greedy so they charge too much for poor coffee beans and still can't find it in their tight wallets to give WiFi away all the time. That is what will kill them. Greed always does.
      • edwartica, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Yeah. I remember about 10 years ago, their quality control was so much higher. But they got greedy and started cutting corners.
    • BitKid, on 06/04/2008, -4/+1Who is Coffee?
    • dleesgeetar, on 06/04/2008, -0/+9who needs two free hours at Starbucks when you can go to ten other places and get it for free the whole day?
    • richmomz, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2They are a little late to the party with the free Wi-Fi thing as others have pointed out. Still, it will make that 5 dollar cup of coffee go down easier knowing that I at least don't have to pay for net access anymore.
  • Surferess, on 06/03/2008, -1/+72Gee, do you think they overbuilt?
    • badave, on 06/04/2008, -4/+6Not necessarily, and I'll tell you why.

      I just got back from overseas (Taipei, Taiwan) and visited many a Starbucks. Every one had plenty of people in it, so many so that I felt like I just had to buy some Starbucks stock because of it.
      • Klowner, on 06/04/2008, -3/+9Unfortunately the ones you visited in Taiwan actually had California addresses, they merely reached critical mass and overflowed across the Pacific
      • dudefaceguyman, on 06/04/2008, -0/+7I agree more with Surferess.

        I know my grandparents just got back from Israel and a Starbucks opened there.They tried to make it a big deal with a grand opening and everything but NOBODY went there.

        Starbucks just doesn't work for some countries I guess.
        • benitojuarez, on 06/04/2008, -1/+6Their coffee isnt kosher.
        • atdakore, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Starbucks had the nerve to open a shop on Lygon St. in Carlton Melbourne.
          Lygon Street is known internationally for its trail of cafes and restaurants, all italian, with fresh espresso coffee at everyone.
          The only reason Starbucks is still operating on the strip, is because of the international students from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
          Kinda like opening a Planet Hollywood Cafe in China Town.
          It's a little insulting to say the least.
        • utahnkid, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Insulting?? Maybe to the hyper-sensitive. Good thing people stopped caring about them a while ago.
      • utahnkid, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Good job fitting your trip into a comment but sadly that's pretty lame reasoning. I hope the rest of your stock decisions aren't based on such meaningless findings.
  • sportscrzy33, on 06/03/2008, -6/+13Not a bad deal, I not really a huge coffee drinker, but trying to find a decent place to get some writing done can be a pain in the ass! I am sure I will be visiting a starbucks in the near future.
    • nociva, on 06/30/2008, -3/+30... a library? i know, it sounds really crazy, but...
    • italics, on 06/04/2008, -1/+13You know, the self-aware, arrogant hey-look-at-me writer in Starbucks is what people tend to, uh... make fun of?
    • tunginobi, on 06/04/2008, -3/+8Am I the only one who got this joke?
      • Hilsee, on 06/04/2008, -0/+10Scary thing is.... I'm not sure he was kidding.
    • LanceUppercut, on 06/04/2008, -1/+12I am pitching a tent at the sheer thought of being able to watch you write your novel.
    • nvisn, on 06/04/2008, -0/+13Microsoft Word does not require internet access.
      • eatkitten, on 06/04/2008, -0/+5No, updating the blog about how "great your story's coming along," instead of actually writing is what requires the internet access.
      • burrgrinder, on 06/04/2008, -2/+0Real authors don't write in MS Office either.
    • richmomz, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3Yes, Starbucks is a perfect distraction free place to concentrate on a work project. Nothing stimulates my creative juices like the jarring sound of a frappuchino machine violently grinding away at 120 decibels while the lady next to me is having an animated conversation on her cell-phone with her ex.

    • janyu86, on 06/04/2008, -0/+0for a "writer", you not good at grammar either[sic]
    • MrSkrilla, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2It is nice Starbucks finally broke down and offered free Wi-Fi, but 2 hours? ***** lame. However, please support your local coffee shops. They bring character to a city. Starbucks has the power to run out the eclectic shops that provide such diverse atmospheres. Also, the local coffee shops usually have much better coffee than Starbucks: free trade, organic coffee. It may cost 25 cents more, but it is worth it.
    • muskrattttt, on 06/04/2008, -0/+0read above: The 10 most annoying people you find in starbucks
  • ScottDaMan, on 06/04/2008, -1/+30I hope this will lead to unlimited wifi or free except for lunch hours type stuff.
    • rebelcommander, on 06/04/2008, -1/+22Perhaps, however 2 free hours should be more than enough for most people. Starbucks probably doesn't like the people who buy one drink and sit in their store for 5 hours since they take up space and don't generate much income for the branch, so I doubt it will get extended to unlimited usage!
    • lukas88, on 06/04/2008, -0/+8My neighbor is nicer than that, free internet whenever I want it. At least as long as he/she uses WEP encryption.
    • richmomz, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2It still falls way short of the status quo. There are tons of places that have free unlimited Wi-Fi without contracts, time limits or other nonsense. If you have to buy a 5 dollar cup of coffee to use the service and limit use to 2 hours a day, that isn't "free." It just doesn't suck as bad as it used to.
  • ralphthemagi, on 06/04/2008, -1/+64I love how "free" WiFi requires a minimum balance of $5 + a purchase every month.
  • RustySparks, on 06/04/2008, -11/+19free wifi...$5 coffees, hmm i guess it's a fair trade
    • Gryffydd, on 06/04/2008, -2/+12$5 coffees? What Starbucks have you been going to? A 20oz coffee is like $1.95. And you can get free refills if you pay with a Starbucks card. I guess if you mean $5 20 oz foo foo cocktails with a hint of coffee flavor...then yeah, they're almost $5. But then those types of drinks cost about the same from anywhere else.
    • willdelaney, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Fair trade.
      O i get it.
  • brenlez, on 06/04/2008, -8/+1Om nom nom nom bzzz bzzz
  • diggcommentguy, on 06/04/2008, -2/+6Two hours, that sounds like enough for me! (except I never go into Starbucks)
  • midriscoll09, on 06/04/2008, -4/+89Another tip for more customers: Lower prices
    • SlvrEagle23, on 06/04/2008, -1/+3Or, if they're going to keep the prices high, goddamn incredible customer service.

      You can't sell me $3 coffee and be an ***** about it, Starbucks baristas. This is why I stopped going to all of the local Starbucks places.
    • edwartica, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Meh. I find there prices are about average - but they could at least make better coffee!
    • tracydanger, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3Prices about average? Don't judge based on other coffee shops. Judge it based on the price difference if you were to brew your own at home. It's way more expensive to buy from some place like that - even if you buy beans from them. You're (I'm) paying for convinience and the good feeling you get going to their store - kinda reminds me of Apple. By the way, I'm not condeming this phenomenon, just observing it.
    • Bicx, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2In a consumerist society, higher prices may make many feel as though the quality is sure to be better. Also, many pay the extra price for the environment: other upper middle class people hanging out together, drinking expensive bean water.
  • pamon, on 06/04/2008, -8/+6guess i can cancel my $20 hotspot acct now over at tmobile... hmmm...
    • havocjaw, on 06/04/2008, -1/+1Not unless you want to to be limited to 2 hours consecutively after adding $5 to your card and registering it online.
    • mgromer, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2They were phasing out the T-Mobile partnership this year anyway.
  • SemiSarcastic, on 06/04/2008, -12/+7$5 dollar coffee is a small price to pay to look like hot ***** with a laptop.
  • pyry, on 06/04/2008, -1/+16Starbucks is pretty much the only place in Minneapolis that charges. Maybe one or two other places. It's pretty much just assumed here, in fact, that it will be free. We may pay for it through higher prices and other things, but the idea of paying specifically for wifi in addition would probably scare people off.
    • WhyBother, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1The situation's the same here in Austin, except it doesn't seem to add too much to the price. All this means for us is that, if you feel like going to the trouble of signing up, for two hours a day, Starbucks will not be inferior to the burger joint across the street. Not much of an incentive, but they're getting closer.
    • tas08, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Funny you say that - I am from St. Paul and when I read the caption to this article my first reaction was "I thought it was already free... it is at McDonald's..."
      You're totally right, it seems almost no one in the Twin Cities charges for wifi, I guess we're just spoiled!
      • pyry, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Heh, it must be a core Minnesotan value, don'cha know!
        • tas08, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Oh that hurts, it really does. I'm not bringing a hot dish or any bars to your party!
    • tracydanger, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2In Norheast Ohio, free wifi at: Panera, Mc Donalds, Fat Burger, Cafe Aroma, Phoenix Coffee, Savor the Moment, Library, Prelude Coffee House, etc. I'm sure there's plenty of others I don't know about.

      Join the club Starbucks.
    • azbmr, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2To be fair, Starbucks had a contract with T-Mobile and couldn't offer any sort of free Wi-Fi until they got out of that contract.
  • xtractor, on 06/04/2008, -4/+8Wow, I read the first 2 paragraphs and just thought 'thats a lot of clauses'
  • zyklon, on 06/04/2008, -9/+3I wont drink their putrid coffee, but I do know that when I'm travelling, this will definitely help me save a few bucks. Viva Starbucks!
  • suntzusputnik, on 06/04/2008, -4/+12great, more annoying people pretending to look intellectual inside
  • israfeel, on 06/04/2008, -14/+3Thats a crap story: A bigger story is Jesse Ventura having insider knowledge that the Govement was behind 911 http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Jesse_Ventura_Go ...
    • greenlight2001, on 06/04/2008, -1/+3Thanks! Just buried it... would never have found it otherwise!
    • TrevorBelmont, on 06/04/2008, -1/+1Nice try. You inspired me to go check it out, to see if you posted it. When I confirmed that you did, I buried it.
      I encourage others to do the same!

      We don't take kindly to spammers 'round these parts.
      • xEn1gma, on 06/04/2008, -1/+0We?

        I take kindly to spammers.

        Shut it.
  • daGUY, on 06/04/2008, -3/+55What is with Starbucks and charging for Wi-Fi?? This is NOT free - you have to purchase a $5 (minimum) Starbucks card, then register it online, AND use it at least once a month (meaning you have to buy something), and you STILL only get 2 consecutive hours of Wi-Fi a day. (Also, I've heard that you have to be an AT&T customer, although the article doesn't confirm or deny this).

    Someone should tell them to look at Panera - free Wi-Fi, all day, every day, and you don't need a card or anything.
    • TrevorBelmont, on 06/04/2008, -0/+10That's especially amazing news if you live over a Panera!
    • houndeyex, on 06/04/2008, -0/+14Our Starbucks has a Panera next door. Score.
    • eldridgea, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2If I'm not mistaken (and I may be) you do not have to be an AT&T customer, however, if you do have an AT&T DSL account, your Starbucks Wifi is free.
    • tas08, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3I love Panera!
    • Olfster, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3Hence I buy all my coffee at Panera. It is also way cheaper than Starbucks.
    • richmomz, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1+1 Sorry Starbucks, this is a step in the right direction but you still fall short of the competition.
    • thehairybuffalo, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1At the Caribou Coffee locations with Wi-Fi it's free for an unlimited time. There is no purchase requirement, it's just free.
    • bradleyland, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Considering the profitability of bakery goods, and the ease with which your average consumer will drop a few bucks on a bagel or pastry, Panera's choice of giving away free WiFi is a master stroke. I read somewhere that Panera makes more money during the "off-peak" (basically, not lunch) than any of their competitors. They attribute this largely to the free WiFi. Considering Starbucks doesn't even have a lunch rush, you'd think they'd jump all over the free WiFi thing to drag customers in.
    • tracydanger, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1To me, this is only good news for people that already frequent Starbucks. If so, it's not gonna cost them any extra, but they now get free wifi.
  • Worldchrisis, on 06/04/2008, -2/+3I thought it was already free so long as you order something?
    • StandardsDT, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Nope you had to sign up for the t-mobile hotspot. And this 2 hour free Wi-Fi? This is a joke, I'll gladly be enjoying my free unlimited Wi-Fi at Panera.
      • brian1625, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Free Coffee Refill as well.
        • StandardsDT, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Yes I know but a free refill is not enough to justify being limited to 2 hrs and to being required to put $5 on a card and then activate it. My friend works at a Starbucks and told me the same thing. Being a student in college and all, having access to unlimited free Wi-Fi is necessary.
  • tendra, on 06/04/2008, -10/+2http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Jesse_Ventura_Go ... The goverment caused 911 according to Jesse Ventura !
    • wolfofwar, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Is he going to piledrive them into telling the truth?
    • jimbohawkins, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1I already buried this once, why are you making me want to bury it twice?
  • waynechng, on 06/04/2008, -1/+6In Malaysia, Wi-Fi at Starbucks is free at all locations for any duration. Enough incentive for me.
    • Cattywampus, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2As a U.S. resident, the airfare to Malaysia would be a dealbreaker for me. (Not that I wouldn't like to visit there, but...)
      • waynechng, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1I meant, incentive for me to be a Starbucks patron while in Malaysia. Yeah, the coffee and free wifi isn't worth the airfare, hahaha!
        • Cattywampus, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I know what you meant, I was just kidding. ;-) How's the Starbucks coffee in Malaysia? Lots of people in the U.S. complain that it has a bitter or burnt taste, but I put a lot of milk and sweetener in mine, so I wouldn't really notice.
  • wolfofwar, on 06/04/2008, -2/+9Ma'am, my coffee tastes like tub girl...
    • infinitiesedge, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1That would be orange juice you're drinking, sir.
  • darthzaphod, on 06/04/2008, -1/+13I find it laughable that they think 2 hours of "free" wi-fi is some sort of deal, or incentive for customers. Handfuls of smaller, cheaper coffee shops offer unlimited wi-fi--how can they expect to compete with that?
    • diggcommentguy, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Sadly, most of the 'smaller' coffee shops offer free unlimited wi-fi because they don't know how to set up a system to limit you. Half of the ones I've been to don't even change the admin password on the router!
      • Typhoon2009, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3Aye, but they seem to keep it regardless. It's obviously not costing them much if anything.
        • edwartica, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Yes, most of the ones I go to are full of students all the time. Its just a given that a coffee shop will have free wifi here. If you don't, well, you won't get as much business.
    • Olfster, on 06/04/2008, -0/+3And that is after you have to jump through hoops. What is the use? Just go to a Panera. Good coffee also. Cheaper.
      • edwartica, on 06/04/2008, -2/+1Except they have an annoying internet filter! I couldn't even pull up my church's website there! lol.
  • mikefitz2, on 06/04/2008, -9/+4great another reason for coffeehouse novel writers to sit around and contribute nothing to society.
    • Cattywampus, on 06/04/2008, -0/+5J.K. Rowling wrote part of the first Harry Potter book in a coffeehouse. Voltaire and many other famous authors also wrote in coffeehouses.

      Yup, none of them ever contributed anything to society.
  • sunspots, on 06/04/2008, -0/+11agreed, how about free internet 24/7. #$%& Starbucks, support local bussiness whereever you may live and drink.
    • edwartica, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2You'll get better service and better coffee!
  • infinitus64, on 06/04/2008, -0/+7only two hours, Fine there will be plenty of internets when we get over californy way
    • AttackingHobo, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2No, I live in California and the starbucks hear have the same thing, go back to Southpark and don't waste your time traveling.
  • MattyLite, on 06/04/2008, -1/+1I thought it was already free lol.
  • ZutroyZuuts, on 06/04/2008, -1/+10They're going to have to try harder than that. My nearest two Starbucks are on the same street about 500 feet apart. There are two free wireless hotspots in between them.

    http://www.wififreespot.com/
  • babakshirazi, on 06/04/2008, -1/+5
    Didn't it used to be free? Or am I dreaming that one day I worked from starbucks when my home internet was out a few years back?
  • metaliq, on 06/04/2008, -1/+16Wtf?

    I live in Minneapolis, and there are a TON of coffee shops here, most of which offer free wifi all the time. Since ever.

    Maybe it's because most of them aren't chains, but still. There behind on the times.

    Lame on them.
    • metaliq, on 06/04/2008, -1/+4They're***

      Eek. I don't self edit when I type and talk on the phone at the same time. Lesson learned.
  • whoreable, on 06/04/2008, -5/+5Now all the hipsters who hang out at the Starbucks can get the same ***** AT&T service, on their iphones, when they drink their coffee.
  • sangita21, on 06/04/2008, -9/+0LOOK ,,,,,, HOW THE BAI WORKS………………………….

    CLICK BELOW TO KNOW………………,
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai9YuZjjLgE

  • RKnight, on 06/04/2008, -0/+5Its a shame its taken a crappy economy to get them to give us free WiFi (albeit, only 2 hours). Every time I'm in one, I'm always baffled the WiFi isn't free. So many other places offer it. And over the past few years I've encountered many people who refuse to go to Starbucks, but if they offered free WiFi, they'd go there, and probably get a latte.
  • xsidekick409, on 06/04/2008, -1/+4Instead they could instead charge normal price for decent coffee instead of a high price for a bad coffee.
    • Gryffydd, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2They charge the same amount as pretty much everybody else in my area. If you compare like products, that is. If you're an idiot and you compare Starbucks' price on blended dessert-in-a-cup drinks to the price of drip coffee at a local shop like half the people on digg...then yeah, it's high priced coffee. As to the quality of the coffee, it's a matter of taste. I know a lot of people who like the darker roast.
      • edwartica, on 06/04/2008, -1/+2Sure they charge the same as every other coffee shop, but, at least in my area (Portland) they have the worst coffee in the city.
      • xsidekick409, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1Don't know what area you are from, but its cheaper here to buy stuff outside of starbucks.

        Just because its dark roast doesn't make it good. I like dark coffee, but theirs has an awful bitter flavor that only occurs in coffee beans that have been sitting around for a while.
  • briangig, on 06/04/2008, -1/+4want to revive your brand? stop overcharging for coffee and make the wifi 100% free all the time...
  • samfishercell, on 06/04/2008, -0/+6"If you buy a scone each time you visit Starbucks, the chain is looking at programs that would reward you in the future with a free scone from time to time, he says."

    How ground-breaking.

    Also, congrats Starbucks, on somehow constructing the world's most complicated "free" Wi-Fi service. I will just be visiting my regular local shops that actually offer...you know...free Wi-Fi. Nice try though.
  • l800LEMMINGS, on 06/04/2008, -2/+1this is also a good way of appreciating the loyal customer as well
  • peestandingup, on 06/04/2008, -0/+9Why the hell not just do away with the stupid access cards & make it a free unlimited hotspot just like every other damn coffee shop on the planet??
  • j0seph, on 06/04/2008, -0/+0Its about time. I emailed Starbucks about 2 years ago about having free wifi and how it would bring in more customers and make people stay longer. They wrote me back saying that "they valued there relationship with tmobile hotspot, and how they see no reason to have free wifi." I guess it takes a hurting to there sales before they will give you free wifi. Now maybe i will be more willing to go in and get a coffee and surf the net awhile instead of getting a coffee and coming home to surf the net.
  • Quevedo23, on 06/04/2008, -1/+1In Mexico all the Starbucks have free reliable wi-fi. You do not need to buy anything. In fact, they give you free stuff to try some of the dishes, which by the way taste horrible. I only go there because of the free internet. It is interesting how the Starbucks differs from place to place: in Japan, the Starbucks also do not have free internet but it is because wi-fi isn't very common over there... In Spain, you even have to pay to use the bathroom and also doesn't have free internet.
  • Ex3poo, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Finally
  • raydeen, on 06/04/2008, -0/+4Hmmm....I've never been to Starbucks but by my calculations I could play 'Never Gonna Give You Up' about 35 times (120 / 3.5 = 34.285714285714285714285714285714) before running out of time. Unless they have me physically removed first. Would be fun to see how far I'd get.
    • ErikHK, on 06/04/2008, -0/+0why did you round up?
    • raydeen, on 06/04/2008, -0/+0Because if I rounded it down, Rick might give me up, let me down, run around and desert me. I felt more positive going up one.

      And I suck at math. And I realized what I did 5 minutes after I posted it.
  • charlie55, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2this is bad news for me, as i live across the street from starbucks and i sell the people there my wifi with my fon router. i hope the two free hours just gets them hooked and then they buy from me. i make 30 or 40 bucks a month from it, or about enough to pay my cable internet bill.
  • talkingwires, on 06/04/2008, -0/+4I stopped going to Starbucks after they partnered up with TMobile. Some of us choose not to have credit cards. Their coffee wasn't that great, and there's always an independent shop around the corner with free WiFi.

    That said, I will swear allegiance to the first coffee shop that carries Bailey's for Irish Coffee.
    • str1fe, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Hell, my local Starbucks is right next door to our Panera Bread. Panera's WiFi has a strong signal right across the wall at Starbucks - I can drink Starbucks' coffee and use Panera's internet quite easily.
  • Jammerdelray, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2so now they are offering something I already get free with my broadband package, who knew.
  • eleece722, on 06/04/2008, -0/+2Or if you like the Starbucks type of setting and want free Wi-Fi, just go to Panera for free wireless all day!
    • Philbert, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1I might if Panera didn't have horrible coffee.
      • BossKey, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1The great thing about Panera is that they have plenty of good food for the later parts of the day when it's too late to be downing more caffeine.
  • breezytrees, on 06/04/2008, -3/+1TWO HOURS FREE INTERNETS??? OMG. i'm going to starbucks right now. I hope i beat the rush this news undoubtably creates. oh man. now i'm scared. brb in 2 hours.
  • PatSolo, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1I couldnt even get my card to registered today. Thank god I know an employee who lets me use her user name and password.
  • Shaman760, on 06/04/2008, -0/+9Too little, too late if you ask me. Why not just do like all the other coffeehouses and open up the hotspot without all the strings attached?

    I have not gone into a Starbucks for months now, and feel better for it. My little coffeehouse up the road appreciates it, and I know for sure that they won't be opening up a "Jungle Java" inside another "Jungle Java".
  • Sulawesi, on 06/04/2008, -4/+6Speaking as a current Sbux employee, I think this is a great idea, but not a whole lot more. It's cool that they are finally offering a way to get wi-fi free as opposed to making payments. As far as the 2-hour limit, that was due to a number of reasons such as if it were unlimited, seating could become scarce, especially in busy and popular stores. Unlimited would be cool for obvious reasons, but there needs to be a certain balance. Research also showed that the average time a customer using a laptop would spend using it in the store was around one hour. This is a good tool to help people who are already using their laptop in the store. as far as being forced to buy a $5 starbucks card, it goes back to the beverages (or anything else) bought at starbucks, so it's not really an extra expense. However, i don't see this attracting too many new customers. If you don't frequent Starbucks often or at all, this wouldn't push you in the store. This is just another little perk, and not a whole lot more.
    • Olfster, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Does the WIFI admin have a tip jar on the counter? Just curious. Also "... not a whole lot more." is an understatement.
    • Philbert, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1The Saxby's Coffee nearby offers totally free wi-fi and they don't have any seating problems. Speaking as an ex-employee from 2 different stores (one right next to Universal Studios, the other in the Philly suburbs) I feel like if the store is busy the seating is going to run out anyway, if it's not busy I don't see a problem.
    • HoratioHellpop, on 06/04/2008, -0/+0Wow, that response sounded like it came straight from the Starbucks Store Manager Wifi Manual.
      • utahnkid, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Actually no.. no it didn't..

        Next time bud.
    • mctom987, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1Two hours? I wonder how they enforce that.
  • doublsh0t, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1No you do not have to be an ATT customer.

    I tried it out today and I was very impressed overall with the speed and ease of the new service. The way I see it, I'm buying it anyways, so this is very nice for me--ceteris paribus (all other things being equal)
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