Starbucks lets iPhone users surf, gratis
So, the rumors had been floating around that because of Starbucks’s switch to AT&T for their Wi-Fi provider (ditching former partner-in-crime T-Mobile), iPhone users would be able to surf the web without paying a single dime. But anecdotal reports are not enough to sate this blogger—I needed first hand proof.
And so I stopped by just outside of the Starbucks near my home—I’m not allowed inside anymore, after an unfortunate incident with a half-caf mocha latte—and fired up Safari. Sure enough, the screen at the left greeted me, asking me to enter my 10-digit phone number. I managed to scrounge that up from my increasingly unreliable memory and pop it in. Blammo—yes, that’s precisely the sound it made—I was online. For free!
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not about to switch back to Starbucks just for the free iPhone Wi-Fi. After that traumatic coffee-related mishap, it just doesn’t feel safe to me, anymore. But it’s handy to know that the next time I’m stranded and the EDGE connection just isn’t cutting it, there’s somewhere I can turn. On every street corner. In the United States.
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Comments (11)
Does this work only for AT&T customers or can those of us with unlocked iPhones on a different service get in on the action?
Posted by Kevin Harter | May 1, 2008 11:57 AM
They may not remain quite so prevalent. Apparently Starbucks is the definition of a luxury item people stop buying in hard economic times.
@Kevin, no risk in trying for yourself. I'd say a snowball has better odds in hell though.
Posted by Dave-O | May 1, 2008 1:10 PM
I was told by a barrister that in order to log on, you need to have a Starbucks card and activate it online. In addition, if you use the card and it runs out, you will no longer be able to connect, so I've bought a $5 and plan to lock it away. Side note that the card is not registering online...but regardless..... Is that true?
Posted by Ken Fischer | May 1, 2008 4:15 PM
C'mon Dan, let's hear the half-caf mocha latte story!
Posted by Jon | May 1, 2008 6:25 PM
@Ken: Did that barrister give you legally-binding advice? Just wondering.
Posted by Steven | May 1, 2008 9:06 PM
Did anyone try it ?
Posted by iPhone | May 2, 2008 4:43 AM
No Starbucks card required. At least in Bellingham, WA. Logged on at a Starbucks and at Barnes & Noble with just phone number. The iTunes store is available but if you want Starbucks to show up in the store you have to log on using TMobile which is still there.
Posted by beverly Martin | May 2, 2008 11:17 AM
The Barrister was wrong. If you're an AT&T customer you just put in your cell number and it works fine.
Posted by Ken Fischer | May 2, 2008 11:18 AM
Ahh...if you do NOT have AT&T cell service or Broadband etc., ANYONE can buy a Starbucks card...register it online...and then get 2 hours of free service. I'm unsure of other details.
Posted by Ken Fischer | May 2, 2008 11:24 AM
I just tried it at a Starbucks in LA, no dice. I got the att wifi login without the free iphone bit. So is there something I am missing or is the secret rollout limited. Maybe they are testing it up there and an official announcement is coming at WWDC for the rest of us.
Posted by Aaron the Photoshop Ninja | May 2, 2008 11:59 AM
It worked last night for my iPhone at a local Barnes Noble - it recognized my iPhone and said in the ATT startup screen, something along the lines of recognizing my iPhone and giving free wireless....but....
I went back today and it seems ATT has already blocked this. I got the standard ATT log-on screen (the same I see with my laptop) on my iPhone. So I'm wondering... did ATT see the plethora of news/comments with regard to how people could mimic the iPhone recognition by changing their browser user agent, and thus block iPhone access all together?
I drove around 3 Starbucks today and none gave me the free iPhone wireless like yesterday..
Posted by Michael Stevens | May 3, 2008 2:19 PM