The most famous alliance in Wi-Fi hotspots, between the Starbucks chain of coffee shops and T-Mobile, has been replaced by a new deal between Starbucks and AT&T. The agreement will offer AT&T’s 12 million broadband customers free unlimited access at the 7,000 US Starbucks branches, as part of the carrier’s recent push to lure broadband users with free Wi-Fi bundles. This will also help Starbucks, which pioneered the hotspot concept with T-Mobile, fight back against the rising number of competing restaurants that offer free access ‘ its charges have been a source of much criticism from customers.
As well as free access for AT&T customers, people with a Starbucks loyalty card will get two hours of free service a day starting this spring. Otherwise customers will pay $3.99 for a two-hour session, or they can buy a monthly membership for $19.99 that will include access to any of AT&T’s other hot spots worldwide.
Chris Bruzzo, chief technology officer for Starbucks, said the new deal came as the chain was “reaching the end of an agreement with T-Mobile.” Starbucks said T-Mobile HotSpot customers will be able to continue to gain access to wireless internet services at no additional cost.