They Got the Memo! Starbucks Offers Free Wi-Fi Nationwide
No time limits. No purchase necessary. Free Internet to customers at all Starbucks stores nationally beginning July 1.
Wonder what influenced their decision?! Could it be the growing number of food retailers offering free wireless to customers such as Panera Bread, McDonald’s, Denny’s, and Caribou Coffee? We think so.
Starbucks has been slow to offer free wireless though they were a first in providing wireless access to patrons through T-Mobile data plans and three years ago adding AT&T but with limited access for non AT&T customers. According to their CEO, Howard Schultz, in the fall the chain will roll out its Starbucks Digital Network in partnership with Yahoo and other sites. The company hopes to capitalize on trends towards localizing unique news content only accessed through their wireless network.
Wired reports,
In addition to the inked partnership with Yahoo, Starbucks is talking to AOL’s Patch.com content-creation division about having it create customized content for the network. In addition, the network will include free online access to the Wall Street Journal, with a percentage of subscription revenue generated when coffee drinkers decide they want to access those articles elsewhere, too.
Starbucks has had trouble over the past few years maintaining and leveraging its former brand status. Is free wireless going to increase business and traffic into their stores? Or is it too much, too late?
If you let Black Web’s managing editor Sherri L. Smith tell it, “Free wireless is the business person’s field of dreams. If you offer free Internet, they will come.”
Category: web 2.0 | Tags: free wi-fi, Starbucks, Starbucks Digital Network, Wall Street Journal, Yahoo
About the Author Managing Editor. Blogger. Consultant. Nerd who likes it behind the scenes.
See all posts by Robin Caldwell.
We”re taxed and surcharged to death for hotel stays, j. I think it's only reasonable for them to throw in Internet service as an amenity and for business travelers, a necessity.
I've done the free wi-fi crawl, moving from coffeehouse to coffeehouse. Three years ago, I paid the $40 per month for unlimited T-mobile access at Starbucks and Borders and that's on top of what I paid at home and in the store for their coffee/tea, etc. I moved on to Caribou and Panera. Wonder how many like me will go back to Starbucks?
The change in wifi policy will definitely cause me to spend more time (and money) at Starbucks. As a web developer and active user of social media I'm constantly online. I often *start* at Starbucks then, after ~2hrs, relocate to another coffee house/book store to use their wifi.
And I agree, the wifi surcharge at upscale hotels is inexcusable. Free high-speed internet is one of the first things I look for in a hotel.
Hi Carol and Michael, you're right. Pricey hotels often charge for Internet and/or wireless service. There are some that if you have a frequent traveler membership (generally free and available online) you can receive free Internet access. The boutique hotels are best for free wireless though. And less expensive chains rock with the free wireless.
Have Border bookstores gone free yet? At one time they operated like Starbucks.
I agree about the hotels!
Now I am waiting for the pricey hotels to get the memo as well. It is so crazy to be charged for wireless as a guest in an expensive hotel. Especially when the cheap ones give it to you for free.