Starbucks begins offering free two-click WiFi access in US and Canada
By Darren Murph 
posted July 1st 2010 7:10AM
posted July 1st 2010 7:10AM
Update: Ha, as our good friend Dave Zatz points out, it's actually two-clicks, not one: 1) agree to terms and services, 2) connect. But let's not let the facts ruin a snappy press release.
Starbucks Turns on Free Wi-Fi for Customers July 1st
Free Wi-Fi with One-click for all Company-Operated Starbucks in U.S. and Canada
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) will turn on free Wi-Fi with one click on July 1 at U.S. and Canadian company-operated stores as a part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing the customer experience. Customers with Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, tablets and mobile phones will have unlimited Internet access to surf the Web, connect with social networks, search for jobs or work at their neighborhood Starbucks. Most recently, the free Wi-Fi benefit was limited to two hours a day and only available to members of the My Starbucks Rewards program. The new, unlimited Wi-Fi offering features a one-click entry point, so a username or password will not be required.
"Our customers were asking for a simplified Wi-Fi offering, and free Wi-Fi has been a top request on MyStarbucksIdea.com. We're excited to turn this feedback into action and believe our customers will be delighted with the enhanced experience they'll find in Starbucks stores"
"Our customers were asking for a simplified Wi-Fi offering, and free Wi-Fi has been a top request on MyStarbucksIdea.com. We're excited to turn this feedback into action and believe our customers will be delighted with the enhanced experience they'll find in Starbucks stores," said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks.
Starbucks will continue to work with AT&T in the U.S. as its Wi-Fi provider, a relationship that's been in place since 2008. Close to 6800 Starbucks locations are part of AT&T's U.S. Wi-Fi network, the nation's largest. In Canada, more than 750 company-operated stores will now have free Wi-Fi. Bell is the Wi-Fi provider in Canada and has worked with Starbucks since 2005.
As Schultz noted at the WIRED Business Conference on June 14th, the addition of one click, free Wi-Fi to the Starbucks customer experience is just the beginning. Later this fall, Starbucks plans to introduce the Starbucks Digital Network, in partnership with Yahoo!. This new online experience, currently planned for U.S. company-operated stores, will offer customers free, unrestricted access to a collection of paid sites and services, exclusive content and previews, free downloads and local community news.
"Bringing one click, free Wi-Fi to Starbucks opens up new opportunities for our customers and gives us the backdrop to continue to bring innovation to their in-store experience. We're finding new ways to bridge the third place coffeehouse environment with the digital space, and look forward to sharing that with our customers," said Stephen Gillett, Starbucks executive vice president, chief information officer and general manager of Digital Ventures.
About Starbucks Coffee Company
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at starbucks.com.
About AT&T Wi-Fi Access
Access includes non-municipal company-owned and -operated hotspots. Wi-Fi-enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for additional services, details and locations.
That's awesome. I just wish I liked their coffee so I could take advantage of this service.
@Tuxy79
I guess Starbucks noticed, people are finally realizing that Starbucks coffee is overpriced because half the price of the coffee goes to employee health care.
This is one way to keep customers coming in. And while they're in the stores using free wifi for hours and begin to get thirsty... hey, we sell beverages too!
@Tuxy79 I buy their tea - posted over free wifi in a SoHo SB
@Tuxy79 Agreed. Tim Horton's: Please add wifi. The fact that there's one in every corner would make it incredible.
@tiuk
My Tim Horton's has wifi. I think it depends on the branch, most still don't.
@Tuxy79 THIS JUST IN: Apple encourages iPhone 4 users to flock to Starbucks to use amazing Facetime app...
@maattp
Timmies getting free one click WiFi would almost be like the entire country of Canada being blanketed in glorious free WiFi because as you say "there's one on every corner"
If Timmies corporate mandated that, then they would officially have done more for the people of Canada then any government in the last few decades has done for this country lol
@Crazy J I, for one, am glad they offer health care for their employees.
@KC
Oh well now that... would be something.
@Tuxy79
Well this taqueria I like to go to for lunch shares a wall with a starbucks. So that's good news!
@Crazy J $1.50 for a cup of coffee is not expensive. The "designer" drinks are, but they are comparable to any other coffee shop.
we like free wifi in the UK as well...
:(
@benjybaruch
just have to loiter outside a macdonalds then
@benjybaruch in fact macdonalds coffee is better than starbucks anyway.. and cheaper
@o0timbo0o
You are joking right?
@Cptnpicard I wouldn't say that McD's coffee is better, but Dunkin' Donuts has damn good coffee. If only we could get those guys to offer free WiFi...and donuts....mmmmmmm.
@Cptnpicard
If we are talking about regular coffee, then I agree Mcdonald's is better.
@benjybaruch
They might decide to do it once the contract with BT Openzone runs out, whenever that is?
Besides, there's many other coffee shops around doing free wifi, and a fair few Wetherspoons as well if you want a pint with your internet rather than coffee!
@benjybaruch we have a free WiFi in the UK - just pick up their SB card at the counter.
IN DA FACE!!
ha ?
It's actually two clicks....
http://twitpic.com/21gqtf
Never let a truth of the matter get in the way of a compelling press release. ;)
@davezatz you can tab through to the checkbox instead. Why not tab the whole way through, zero clicks!
How unfortunate that Starbucks uses two clicks. I would have enjoyed using my great IPEVO SO-20 IP-phone which won't work since no browser. I don't understand why I need terms of service ?? This sounds dumb if I don't pay, no tickeee no shirtee? No Pay no conditions , NO??
Now people can sniff packets after they sniff their cup of joe
I'm confused. I don't go to Starbucks, but someone told me that WiFi there has always been free for as long as he can remember.
@Alex
Maybe at some locations, but at all the ones I have been too, and tried, it has not been. Its a shame too because when i am on travel, where I get my morning coffee/breakfast depends on Wifi access. Now Starbucks is back on the list.
@Alex You actually have to pay by the hour to use it, I think. But the Starbucks here in Florida is @ City Place and CP has their own free wifi w/c is faster than Starbucks' AT&T and faster too.
@Alex They've had free wifi at many Starbucks, but it was limited to either being a Bell customer (for unlimited) or having a Starbucks duetto card (for 1 hour), or more recently simply signing up for an account (same 1 hour limit).
The bigger annoyance was that you had to sign in and the service was flaky, the thing kept dropping my connection or I wouldn't be able to click on the starbucks sign in, it was a PITA on the iPhone.
This new service looks identical to how McDonalds offers free Wifi in other countries, just check the T&C box and go.
@SAN66 - Gold Rewards card holders had 2 hours of free WiFi per day.
@SAN66
I love McDonalds' free WiFi. It saved me in a real pinch one time.
In addition to this, Starbucks has announced that all coffee prices have been raised by $6.50.
@SpongeFreak52 I don't doubt it for the higher rich ones. I'm paying $7.77 where I am for Venti Hazlenut Latte and a Mexican Wrap.
I work in Turkey for 3 years and here you can hardly find cafe without free WiFi including Starbucks. WiFi heaven=)
At $5 a cup, should have been offering it all along.
@shanoboy
A regular cup if coffee is not 5.00!!!
It would be nice if people like you actually went into a Starbucks to look at the prices instead of just making stupid comments.
@shanoboy A 12oz coffee at starbucks is $1.50.
hey starbucks!
please free wifi in germany too or i won't buy the double 20'' chipchiop chock chup chip low fat cream shweep double swoop strawberry macchiato anymore!
Free wifi service on a 56kbps like DSL? Awesome. Can't wait to have free slow service like Panera.
It has always been free in the UK, well, almost,all you have to do is register a Starbucks card with £2 minimum, you never have too top it up again, then you can login with those credentials and use the wifi for free.
I don t get it. In the czech republic, wifi in all starbucks is free and unlimited for all for like...ever.
@aeonys It's simple, really. This article is about Starbucks in the US and Canada, rather than the Czech Republic. In the US and Canada, it isn't - wasn't - free, but now it is.
Honestly, I'm from Europe myself - the UK - but it really grates when every time broadband, phones, etc., are mentioned, a bunch of Europeans come on and claim superiority.
Yes, we do enjoy some things much faster, or at a lower cost, than our cousins across the pond, but I'm sure each and everyone one of them is well aware of that, without a steady parade of Europeans rubbing their noses in it at every god forsaken opportunity.
Not directed at you personally, aeonys, rather what your comment represents.
Now then, imminent uprank by Americans should negate imminent downrank by Europeans. Neutral comment FTW.
@iphonedyou
I might have expressed myself badly because you did not understand me: I expressed my surprise because I thought it was free wifi everywhere in the Starbucks in USA as well.
I was in the USA actually, I was in Miami and Atlanta and everywhere in airports and in Miami city's starbucks i could connect freely through wifi without password. So I don't know maybe I went to the only two starbucks in the us that had free wifi?
Other than that, if it was really like this in the USA, I really don't get why people would go to Starbucks. I mean their coffee is overpriced and watery. the only thing I love about it is being able to sit my ass and be on wifi.
@aeonys All fair points. Glad you didn't take my comment personally - as I said, it was more what it represented.
Somebody said above that many of them do have free wifi, but I think it possibly depends on the person that owns it. I actually don't think their coffee is that bad, but seem people really don't like it at all.
As the article alluded to, though, it'll be even more of a struggle finding a seat now..!
@iphonedyou
Ah why would I take it personally? Over the time I spent on forums I notice that between what you mean, what you write and what the other sides gets you're pretty much screwed 50% of the time.
But until now I really didn't know people had to go through this for Wifi. I actually think free password less wifi should be a standard for all public spaces.
I'm in Tbilisi, Georgia right now. And they are actually progressively doing this. All "fancy" cafes, restaurants are applying this and it's really good.
Sitting in Starbucks now. Yes it works and it is easy to connect. The speed is decent too.
I'm curious as to what the WiFi connectivity to iPhone would be. Would it pull a dialog up right off the bat or logging into the comics page pull the dialog.
3 words: FREE WIFI EUROPE!!
@joostiphone: Thanks. Now I'll just go to Europe to get my coffee every morning.
One has controversially opened up in Quebec City (right opposite a new Presse Café...) I for one love to suckle on the corporate teat that is Starbucks and will enjoy a macchiato while I surf