Free WiFi at Starbucks?
You’re not going to believe this when I tell you. I mean, unless you’ve been on Twitter today. Which, let’s face it, is where I get the majority of my news.
Starbucks has finally decided to join the rest of the world in 2010. Starting July 1, they’ll be offering free WiFi at all their US locations.
That’s right. FREE WIFI.
Personally, I didn’t think it would ever happen. I know that if you have AT&T DSL already, you can access it at Starbucks, but I’m of the opinion that the devil lives in AT&T, so I don’t want to have any more of their services than necessary. (I’m squinty-eying you, Apple, for forcing me into AT&T service for my iPhone.)
The news that Starbucks was pairing up with AT&T just pushed me over the edge. I refuse to be bullied in such a fashion, and I can get free WiFi at any number of bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, and car repair shops. The only thing to accomplish by forcing AT&T down my throat: I will happily choose to spend my time elsewhere. Especially since you’re charging me more for coffee than can be considered acceptable. Highway robbery with a side of charging me for WiFi indeed.
But you’ve made me happy today, Starbucks. As long as this free WiFi doesn’t end up being “free” WiFi. No more tricks and conditions and forcing me to buy $10 gift cards every month. You wouldn’t do that to me, right?
According to TechCrunch, Starbucks is partnering up with Yahoo for this project.
The only thing that puzzled me was this sentence: “Schultz also mentioned that the company is in talks with AOL to integrate local content from Patch in this network.”
AOL? Really? Who’s in talks with AOL for anything? I mean, granted, I have to use AOL mail all the time because my boss is a bit of a dinosaur and it’s the only email program he can understand (and I use the term “understand” loosely here), but other than that, I can’t see what use anyone has for anything AOL. It’s weird enough that you’re partnering with Yahoo (holding my junk mail since 1999).
My excitement will not be deterred, though. Coffee! Pastries! (Free) WiFi! Now, if you’d only add 200% more electrical outlets to every location…
Also, maybe a way to reserve my favorite comfy chair? More comfy chairs? Nah, I’ll leave it alone.
