Wednesday, February 13, 2008

iPhone users might benefit from Starbucks and AT&T deal




This Monday Starbucks said  that it will changes its Wi-Fi network provider from T-Mobile to AT&T. Over 7000 stores all around US will have free internet for 12 million U-Verse DSL subcribers, 100,000 Strabucks employes, business remote access subribers and T-Mobile HotSpot subcriers.

If you have Starbucks card you will get two hours of free service each day. You can buy the card the store with, minimal value of $5.

Now if don't have any cards or subscriptions and just walked in randomly for a cup of coffee and check your emails, you will have to pay $3.95 for two hour access. You also cant get monthly unlimited usage plan from AT&T for $19.95.

This is much cheaper then what T-Mobile was charging. It was $6 per hour or $10 a day for walk-up service; $20 per month to its voice subcribers as an add-on plan; and $30 to $ 40 per month for others, depending on therm of commitment.

Operator change will start during second quarter of this year, and last untill the end of the year.

So far it is not know whether iPhone users will get free access to the network. All AT&T spokesman said was, "We don't have any announcement to make on this at this time. I think you can expect us to continue to evaluate all the options to bring greater access and value to our customers. "But given that many of AT&T Wi-Fi users get it for free, it i safe to believe that iPhone users will benefit as weel.