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.
Total newb here. How does this wifi work with an iPhone or Touch? Is there some app you need or do you just select the wifi network?
Or do you need some account from AT&T or Bell even if it's free now.
@beheybirder
No app needed. Just select wifi on your device.
Wait so is Starbucks just now getting WiFi or just now getting free WiFi? I've never stayed in there long enough to pull out a laptop.
So free, global public wifi is no longer an issue for governments to worry about. Before long we'll have so many Starbucks per square mile it'll pretty much sort itself out.
Good, now Starbucks is up to speed with pretty much every other coffee house I've been to. One of the biggest reasons I avoided them is because they were exclusive to AT&T customers.
Thankfully we don't have to drink that "coffee" of theirs to enjoy free wifi.
Does this mean AT&T now has fewer free hotspots, so they will reduce my monthly bill?
naterecording - Starbucks (or B&N) wifi hasn't been exclusive to AT&T customers for quite a while. When you first connect you get a hotspot page where you have to "Agree", and you're online.
I hope they don't turn off the attwifi hotspot most of them have now. The iPhone and some other smartphones log in automatically. Very convenient.
On that note, how long do they cache your MAC address once you agree? Some hotspots forget me as soon as I lock the phone (Wifi turns off) and I have to click through again.
Shouldn't it "really" be 3-clicks? Actually click to read the terms of service, then agree then connect?
@romple83 reading the terms of service isn't required. Who honestly reads the TOS anyways?
Meh I was one day out yesterday, and first time I'd used SB wifi
me - its not fee until tomorrow right?
Cashier - what are you talking about
Me - the wifi. its free from tomorrow
Cashier - really? Oh. You need a card for it to work
Me - (sighs) ok gimme a small gift card
It took them how long to offer this? Panera has been doing this for a couple years now, and when there's a Starbucks, a Panera isn't too far away.
About freaking time. They're one of the last companies/restaurants to offer free wifi. Perhaps if they had done this during the recession, they wouldn't have had to close so many shops
Free FaceTime calls at Starbucks - sweet!
People are going to wonder why I'm always drinking coffee on video calls though.... LMAO!
like the starbucks' in my neighborhood arent packed enough
@Aceyriot yep a bunch of geeks as well at the ones I go to as well.
Don't all get too excited. We have free starbucks wifi here in Chile and it is unusable :( I have been to about 3 different ones. If the situation will be similar in the US and Canada then better stay in your home office doing the work. I go to Juan Valdez (Columbian Chane) and get better coffee and good internet.
Tim Horton's doesn't even take debit, I don't think wifi is coming anytime soon. As for starbucks, way to go. Almost no one offers free wifi in canada. They just buy expensive equipment and let it sit there as no one buys.
As for me, I have wmwifirouter and unlimited data so I don't care either way.
Whatever happened to iTunes with Starbucks? Does that even still work? The only time I have ever used it (well partially) was in Denver I've never seen it again
Starbucks is at the centre of way too many Apple fanboy jokes to ever be taken seriously again.
I was travelling to Hong Kong last December and I found out that Starbucks offering a free 15 minutes within 24 hours (they can detect your MAC address of your device), which is barely enough to check email and to reply. Fortunately, I have the FON account that allows me to connect almost anywhere for free without any time limitation and the signal is strong too.
As of yesterday, July 2nd at 11:30pm (Starbucks at Niagara Falls, Canadian side), the service was down. It led to another page stating that "unfortunately we can not connect you at this time" bla bla...
I called the 1800 customer service number which appears in that page. The person who answered the phone (a Bell rep) said that they had been flooded by calls reporting the same thing.
Thus, so far it doesn't work in at least several places in Ontario.