BostonPocketPC

Well it looks like Starbucks has ended their 6 year relationship with T-Mobile and started a new one with their data partner AT&T, who already provides their business end POS (Point of Sale) technology and connection for the past 10 years, they thought it a logical step. So you will now no longer have to hunt for alternative places to have your free WiFi for your office on the road,outside the house, or impromptu meeting place to get some work done and sip on some coffee and WiFi at over 7,000 different Starbucks locations (granted some are within blocks of each other in some major cities). Looks like Starbucks realized they were losing customers that didn't want to pay $10 for WiFi access and went to competitors like Panera for their business.

Under the agreement, about 12 million AT&T subscribers of DSL service in the 1.5-megabit-per-second tier or higher will receive free Wi-Fi access at Starbucks stores. Users will log on with their AT&T Yahoo DSL sign-in to receive service.

Also Starbucks customers who purchase a prepaid Starbucks card will receive two hours of free service. The card, which can be purchased for $5 or more, must be activated and have a balance to receive free Wi-Fi service.

The addition of Starbucks brings the number of AT&T hotspots to 17,000 in the United States, including McDonald's and Barnes & Noble locations. Last month, AT&T said it was offering most of its DSL subscribers free access to its then-10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots.

Current T-Mobile HotSpot customers will not be left out in the cold still will be able to log on to the network through a partnership agreement with AT&T.

AT&T also is cutting the price of hotspot service for outside users who don't want to use a pre-paid card (why I don't know why you wouldn't just purchase a prepaid card, but hey its an option for the consumer negligent). For two hours, users can pay $3.99 for access. Also monthly membership will be sold for $19.99, and will include access to AT&T's 70,000 hotspots around the world. Previously, T-Mobile was charging $6 per hour, $9.99 for a day pass, or $39.99 a month for unlimited access.

“People want to stay connected to their world 24/7, and Wi-Fi hot spots, broadband and wireless make that mobility possible,” said Rick Welday, AT&T chief marketing officer, Consumer. “Laptops and smartphones give us the online mobility we crave, and now millions of AT&T and Starbucks customers will get Internet access free from the comfort of their neighborhood Starbucks.”

“This is what our customers have been waiting for — free Starbucks-quality Wi-Fi,” said Chris Bruzzo, chief technology officer, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Through our new partnership with AT&T, we also welcome their millions of current customers who can now come in and enjoy free Wi-Fi as part of their daily Starbucks Experience.”

This change won't be immediate and will start on April 1st, 2008 while equipment is being transitioned.