Back in February, coffee giant Starbucks decided to ditch T-Mobile and go with AT&T as the service provider for its in-store Wi-Fi hotspots. Now, Starbucks is officially rolling out its new Wi-Fi services with AT&T, with Starbucks stores in San Antonio being the first to get the “complete” AT&T experience. AT&T Wi-Fi service will eventually be available in all U.S. company-run Starbucks locations with Wi-Fi service; the company’s expect to bring new locations online on a market-by-market basis throughout 2008.
“With the power of our Wi-Fi network, and through our partnership with Starbucks, we’re strengthening our ability to meet the needs of today’s mobile consumer virtually anywhere and everywhere,” AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said in a statement. “Expanding our reach across company-operated Starbucks locations nationwide helps us bridge the gap between our wired and wireless offerings and affirms AT&T’s commitment to connect people with their worlds, everywhere they live and work.”
As of May 1, AT&T customers with qualifying broadband packages will be able to connect to the Internet from Starbucks Wi-Fi hotspots by connecting to the ATTWiFi network in Starbucks locations. Other customer will be able to choose from both free and paid connection options designed to appeal both to occasional Internet users as well as more dedicated coffee-and-Internet fiends.
