Google will now be providing your free WiFi at Starbucks
Find yourself popping into Starbucks often for a cup of Joe and some free, sweet WiFi? You might want to know that AT&T and Starbucks have ended their partnership, where the former provided data for those who needed it. So who’s taking AT&T’s spot? None other than your friendly neighborhood software and web technology company — Google. This partnership only applies in the United States, so those of you elsewhere will continue enjoying free WiFi by whoever the current provider is.
So, what does this mean compared to what AT&T offered? Google’s promising 10x the speed, and as Google Fiber continues its rollout they’re hoping to be able to offer 100x the speed AT&T was. The rollouts begin this August, and will take Google just 18 months to reach all of the 7,000 Starbucks locations currently offering the service. I can’t say I’m too disappointed at that at all. Sorry, AT&T, but if Google can live up to that promise then we won’t be missing you in America’s most popular coffee destination.
Google isn’t offering a way to see which locations do and don’t have WiFi on a website, but if you walk into your local Starbucks and the SSID is “Google WiFi,” you know you’re up and running on the new network. Don’t go crazy and spend all your money on coffee as you look to check your favorite locations in the months to come.
[via Google]