Starbucks to Offer Free Wi-Fi

Good catch! After you pointed it out, it seems obvious.

How will it work exactly?

I wonder why that will be an iPhone app, rather than just a mobile website with location based elements?

I certainly do have a problem in principle. In practice I still use my iphone. Maybe I should blame Apple for deciding to partner with a carrier that uses these kind of tactics.

I'm confused as to the freeness as well.

A "Starbucks purchase card" is like a gift card. Except they encourage people to buy one for themselves, so that you don't have to carry cash.

I guess if you use a gift card to make a purchase, then they can tie your purchase to an AT&T account, and they'll give you 2 free hours of WiFi service.

No one's said that they'll be offering any extra free services for iPhone users, which makes me assume they won't. (AT&T already runs WiFi hotspots now, and those aren't free for iPhone owners.)

That's interesting. I suppose the Starbucks sign gets people thinking about coffee, but they don't want to go to Starbucks.

yes, like $9.99 a day. F uck that. That's why I hate them. The local cafe, has better coffee, and free internet.

My most local Starbucks is practically empty but the smaller chain coffeeshop across the street and the independent coffeeshop a block away are packed. No one wants to pay for Wi-Fi.

Great, so stick to your neighborhood coffee shop. As far as I can tell Starbucks has good coffee (but I'm not an expert on coffee) at a reasonable price (quit bitching about price people, if you can't afford it you need a better job) and it's convenient (they're everywhere, many open 24 hours, drive through).

No matter where I travel in the country I can have the exact same coffee made just the way I like it.

Living in Seattle, every time I slip and fall in the rain, I end up in a Starbucks and decide to leave with a cup of coffee.

1. some people have very few choices. If you live around rural areas, or most of middle americans, choices are between chains and other chains.

2. People are attracted to familiar places/shops. So, if you are in a different area, and see a starbucks it is immediately recognizable as a place to get coffee.

3. Most americans are not necessary culturally curious, so they are more likely to settle with the default average choice.

4. Starbucks are fricking everywhere. So, sometimes they are just more convenient to go to.