Macworld: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for ...

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22 Replies Last post: May 6, 2008 9:03 AM by gdmedia 1 2 Previous Next

Macworld

6,062 posts since
Nov 30, 2007

May 2, 2008 3:57 PM

Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

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Jason Snell

2,190 posts since
Dec 11, 2000

1. May 2, 2008 4:27 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

I can confirm a sighting on the West Coast as well -- at the foot of the Grapevine, of all places.

http://twitter.com/jsnell/statuses/801684557

Jason Snell, Editorial Director, Macworld

evansb2

3 posts since
Jan 14, 2008

2. May 2, 2008 4:37 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

I was able to log in with just my iPhone's number at two Starbucks in Burbank, CA yesterday. Today at one of those two, however, I was greeted with an ATT screen asking for my userid and password. When I tried with my ATT email account, I was sent to a T-Mobile error page.

Some bugs need to be worked out, methinks.

AppleHead

34 posts since
Dec 5, 2003

3. May 2, 2008 5:28 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

My college (Cerritos in Norwalk, CA) has an on commercial Wi-Fi in place that requires one to sign up and pay. It shows up as attwifi as well. As an iPhone user and ATT subscriber, do I get free Wi-Fi as a part of my contract, or do I have to pay to use my own network?

Adammiller

35 posts since
Feb 24, 2008

4. May 2, 2008 5:37 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

In the York, Pennsylvania area I have already used free WiFi at two different Starbucks. There seems to be some confusion as to how things are working. I had seen another screen shot of the login screen that you found so thats what I was expecting to experience. I had my WiFi turned off when I got to Starbucks and after turing it on I was asked if I wanted to join T-Mobile or At&t. I hit At&t and the phone automatically showed full wireless bars... I used the service for a few minuets and also found that I had full bars in the parking lot. The switch over seems to be a little confusing.

Adammiller

35 posts since
Feb 24, 2008

5. May 2, 2008 5:39 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

Also I just noticed that the screen shot in this article only shows one bar of wireless service. Is this all you had?

EthanB

9 posts since
Sep 26, 2007

6. May 2, 2008 7:46 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

Here in Jackson, TN, the local Starbucks still has T-Mobile but also AT&T Wi-Fi. It worked instantly with my iPhone.
I also had my MacBook with me and, since I have AT&T DSL at home, I could log on for free as well.
According to AT&T, the downtown Starbucks location has also switched over, but I haven't checked it out yet.
If it's gotten to a small town in West Tennessee, I'm sure it's already in a lot of other locations.

Podesta

25 posts since
Oct 30, 2004

7. May 2, 2008 8:43 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

No luck at three Starbucks in Portland, OR, despite someone saying he was successful using Wi-Fi with his iPhone in Eugene.

I also discovered Borders is staying with T-mobile despite operating Seattle's Best Coffee cafes, which are part of the Starbucks empire.

alansky

357 posts since
Jul 14, 2004

8. May 2, 2008 8:49 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

Starbucks had better hurry up with their roll-out of free wi-fi for iPhones. Earnings declined 21% in the second quarter of 2008 according to this report: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/business/01starbucks-web.html

Glenn_Fleishman

151 posts since
Oct 13, 2001

9. May 2, 2008 9:17 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

In Seattle, got the attwifi network name and a very very very slow pull up of the phone number entry page.

This is all beta, but they could have made it easier to ignore when it wasn't fully working, no?

Tom_Diola

1,976 posts since
Oct 19, 2001

10. May 2, 2008 9:23 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

sadly Starbucks has always done a poor job at this.
I was in Staples and connected instantly! Starbucks
is fast losing their luster.

mcritz

26 posts since
Nov 14, 2005

11. May 3, 2008 10:25 AM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

I can confirm that the Coolidge Corner Starbucks, in Boston-adjacent Brookline, MA is still a "T-mobile" hotspot. Not that you'd have much fear of being without wifi in that neighborhood.

cfromberg

63 posts since
Apr 15, 2004

12. May 3, 2008 1:45 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

in germany t-mobile and t-home clients can sign up for a flatrate that costs €15/month. iphone users with tmobile service get free access to the tmobile hotspots in germany anyway...

there's like 7000-8000 hotspots in germany available through tm0bile/t-home. they're by far the biggest wifi provider here. even on the ICE high speed trains there's wifi provided, the infrastructure is provided by UMTS/HSDPA/HUSPA cell phone towers near those high speed tracks, and the flat rate applies to those trains as well! awesome offering;-)

choiceweb

3 posts since
May 3, 2008

13. May 3, 2008 3:48 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

I've also noticed that on Starbuck's website if you buy a gift card, register it on their website, and use it at least once a month, you can get two hours of online access free. I haven't tested it just yet, but it seems to address one reason I use a coffee shop that offers free wifi for my iBook instead of going to a Starbucks: http://www.starbucks.com/retail/wireless.asp

RalphDaily

16 posts since
Apr 2, 2005

14. May 3, 2008 5:53 PM

in response to: evansb2

Re: Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

If the starbucks doesn't recognize your iPhone, It' s the user and password your dsl modem uses to connect to att, which is normally different from your email user/password. I went through the same thing as you did for a week before I realized that I was using the wrong password. My local starbucks has been working fine with my iphone for days. I use the free att login at Starbucks when I take my MBA.

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May 2, 2008 3:57 PM

Starbucks rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhones, slowly

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