Starbucks Will Offer Free Wi-Fi Service from AT&T, Drop T-Mobile

In the near future, Starbucks will begin offering free AT&T Wi-Fi service at more than 7,000 locations across the United States. 

Previously, the coffee giant had offered T-Mobile's service.

A Free Sample

Beginning this spring, Starbucks Card holders can get up to two hours of free Wi-Fi service per day, while qualifying AT&T broadband and AT&T U-verse Internet customers will have unlimited free access to the Wi-Fi service.

In addition, all of AT&T's remote access services business customers will be able to access Wi-Fi service at Starbucks locations.  

"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."

Daily or Monthly Service

In addition to the free Wi-Fi access for qualifying AT&T customers and any Starbucks Card holder, people will be able to purchase access to the AT&T Wi-Fi network at Starbucks. For a two-hour period, customers will pay $4 per session. Monthly membership will also be available for $20, and will include access to any of AT&T's over 17,000 U.S. hotspots and 70,000 hotspots in 89 countries around the world.

The availability of AT&T Wi-Fi service at Starbucks will take place on a market-by-market basis, with store implementation beginning this spring and completed by the end of the year.

T-Mobile Responds

T-Mobile has responded to this announcement with the following statement:

Today's announcement regarding the Starbucks Wi-Fi operations will not impact T-Mobile HotSpot customers' ability to use Wi-Fi services at Starbucks locations for years to come. In fact, the Wi-Fi network operations transition will not begin until later this year. Even after the transition, T-Mobile HotSpot and HotSpot@Home customers will continue to experience seamless Wi-Fi access at Starbucks locations for at least the next five years under a roaming agreement between T-Mobile USA and AT&T. There will be no additional charge for T-Mobile HotSpot and Hotspot @Home customers at Starbucks.