Comments on: Is the end of paying for Wi-Fi near? http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/ At the intersection of business and technology Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:59:37 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: lonieross,beaumont ,ca. http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1421 lonieross,beaumont ,ca. Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:25:37 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1421 I never did like Star@3$@ucks . Coffee crap and high price and no free wifi in the past . The bloom is past even with free wifi . I never did like Star@3$@ucks . Coffee crap and high price and no free wifi in the past . The bloom is past even with free wifi .

]]> By: Gr8escape, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1388 Gr8escape, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:16:27 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1388 I've never been to the US, so I always assumed Starbucks the world over offered free wi-fi. Well, now I know... In Malaysia, Starbucks has always offered free wi-fi. In fact, they started a trend. Now just about every other restaurant down the road offers wi-fi. Kuala Lumpur plans to be a free wi-fi city by end of next year. Singapore has already begun implementing their wi-fi city initiative and the entire island would be wi-fi ready (free) pretty soon. It wasn't free in Australia either when I was there last year! I’ve never been to the US, so I always assumed Starbucks the world over offered free wi-fi. Well, now I know…

In Malaysia, Starbucks has always offered free wi-fi. In fact, they started a trend. Now just about every other restaurant down the road offers wi-fi.

Kuala Lumpur plans to be a free wi-fi city by end of next year. Singapore has already begun implementing their wi-fi city initiative and the entire island would be wi-fi ready (free) pretty soon.

It wasn’t free in Australia either when I was there last year!

]]> By: Istok, Los Angeles, CA http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1385 Istok, Los Angeles, CA Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:06:45 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1385 Finally!!!! F%#@in finally!!! I go to Starbucks because there is one with a nice patio close by. Otherwise I avoid them at all costs due to this cheap@ss stunt of making money through wifi. I guess in the past they could because the sheep went there no matter what but with too many stores and dropping stock price they need revenue. So what if you need a Sbux card, you get one with what, $10 (I dont think it expires) on it and get 2 hrs free every day. What are you afraid you will be tempted to buy coffee if you have the card? So f#$@in what! This is America, nothing is for free. You need to show some kind of commitment otherwise they would have shady cheap@ss losers hanging out in the parking lot downloading all kinds of weird stuff. Finally!!!! F%#@in finally!!!
I go to Starbucks because there is one with a nice patio close by. Otherwise I avoid them at all costs due to this cheap@ss stunt of making money through wifi. I guess in the past they could because the sheep went there no matter what but with too many stores and dropping stock price they need revenue. So what if you need a Sbux card, you get one with what, $10 (I dont think it expires) on it and get 2 hrs free every day. What are you afraid you will be tempted to buy coffee if you have the card? So f#$@in what! This is America, nothing is for free. You need to show some kind of commitment otherwise they would have shady cheap@ss losers hanging out in the parking lot downloading all kinds of weird stuff.

]]> By: SS, Westboro, MA http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1384 SS, Westboro, MA Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:33:43 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1384 Would this also bring about free wi-fi at airports? Imagine transiting through JFK on a trip to London and you need to get a Wi-Fi account by T mobile. Looks like the stoneage seems to hit some of the airports. Would this also bring about free wi-fi at airports? Imagine transiting through JFK on a trip to London and you need to get a Wi-Fi account by T mobile. Looks like the stoneage seems to hit some of the airports.

]]> By: Phil, Las Vegas, NV http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1383 Phil, Las Vegas, NV Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:16:15 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1383 Certain locations of Coffee Beans, Java Detour, and It's a Grind has already been offering free unlimited WIFi. For Starbucks to offer a free 2 hours is not enough plus you need to have a Starbucks card too? Certain locations of Coffee Beans, Java Detour, and It’s a Grind has already been offering free unlimited WIFi. For Starbucks to offer a free 2 hours is not enough plus you need to have a Starbucks card too?

]]> By: Leanne Mustain, Hollywood, FL http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1382 Leanne Mustain, Hollywood, FL Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:24:04 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1382 I opted out of going to Starbucks for a Capp. so that I could get FREE WI-FI at Panera Bread Company...now I will have a choice. FREE Wi-FI now dictates where I will dine or even stay. A Cheaper hotel room in Vegas last year was not so affordable after adding WI-FI access to the bill. I will take that into consideration with all my purchases now. Congrats! Starbucks for coming around. I opted out of going to Starbucks for a Capp. so that I could get FREE WI-FI at Panera Bread Company…now I will have a choice. FREE Wi-FI now dictates where I will dine or even stay. A Cheaper hotel room in Vegas last year was not so affordable after adding WI-FI access to the bill. I will take that into consideration with all my purchases now. Congrats! Starbucks for coming around.

]]> By: Jack / Downtown Cleveland, Ohio http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1381 Jack / Downtown Cleveland, Ohio Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:34:12 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1381 We work near a Panera, caribou and Starbucks. We will have our weekly planning meeting (1/2 hour), take a laptop and vpn in to work. Guess where we never go? Yep, Starbucks since it costs, while Panera and caribou are 'free'. The eight of us always buy a drink and snack item. Panera and Caribou easily make the cost of having a dsl wireless connection every month just from us. We work near a Panera, caribou and Starbucks. We will have our weekly planning meeting (1/2 hour), take a laptop and vpn in to work. Guess where we never go? Yep, Starbucks since it costs, while Panera and caribou are ‘free’. The eight of us always buy a drink and snack item. Panera and Caribou easily make the cost of having a dsl wireless connection every month just from us.

]]> By: Matt Yoder, Chardon, Ohio http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1380 Matt Yoder, Chardon, Ohio Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:19:44 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1380 Caribou Coffee, Panera, Lubestop, Brueggers Bagels and alot of other places all have free WIFI. Some require an email address, most do not. Caribou owners say the $50/month DSL cost is well worth the extra business it brings in, plus all the good will it generates among laptop users. StarRipoff is too late. Caribou Coffee, Panera, Lubestop, Brueggers Bagels and alot of other places all have free WIFI. Some require an email address, most do not. Caribou owners say the $50/month DSL cost is well worth the extra business it brings in, plus all the good will it generates among laptop users. StarRipoff is too late.

]]> By: Stella, Tampa, FL http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1375 Stella, Tampa, FL Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:10:33 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1375 Most people will drink about 1 coffee in a 2 hour period. So by the time the 2 hour is up, I would be on my way out rather than buying another coffee and stick around. If it was free all day long, I'd be sticking around and buying more lattes. Most people will drink about 1 coffee in a 2 hour period. So by the time the 2 hour is up, I would be on my way out rather than buying another coffee and stick around. If it was free all day long, I’d be sticking around and buying more lattes.

]]> By: Alex, Boston, MA http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1374 Alex, Boston, MA Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:31:00 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1374 It may be ironic, but what I discovered during my trip to Argentina last Christmas is that most of the restaurants and cafes there do have free Wi-Fi for their patrons. I guess it is US turn to catch up on the trend. It may be ironic, but what I discovered during my trip to Argentina last Christmas is that most of the restaurants and cafes there do have free Wi-Fi for their patrons. I guess it is US turn to catch up on the trend.

]]> By: Michael, LandbridgeToys.com, Boston, MA http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1373 Michael, LandbridgeToys.com, Boston, MA Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:40:34 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1373 Panera Bread has been offering FREE wi-fi for a long time. Panera Bread has been offering FREE wi-fi for a long time.

]]> By: Roddy Chiong, Los Angeles, CA http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1371 Roddy Chiong, Los Angeles, CA Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:37:15 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1371 I think Sbux has done a great job all around. First let's remember that although we were paying for their wifi, it was for a service (TMobile) that worked great and in a great location (Sbux). Sbux deservedly made a profit with TMobile but now times have changed and the adjustment has been made. I'd hate to be the account manager for TMobile though! That person or team must be having the worst week of their life. I'm a Sbux fan and a fan of Howard Schultz. Let's remember that they spend more on health insurance for their part-time workers than on getting the premium coffee beans. What a company! I think Sbux has done a great job all around. First let’s remember that although we were paying for their wifi, it was for a service (TMobile) that worked great and in a great location (Sbux). Sbux deservedly made a profit with TMobile but now times have changed and the adjustment has been made. I’d hate to be the account manager for TMobile though! That person or team must be having the worst week of their life. I’m a Sbux fan and a fan of Howard Schultz. Let’s remember that they spend more on health insurance for their part-time workers than on getting the premium coffee beans. What a company!

]]> By: Steph, Sebastopol, CA http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1369 Steph, Sebastopol, CA Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:53:29 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1369 Its about time. Considering how many other establishments provides the service for free it seems to be a smart move. Its about time. Considering how many other establishments provides the service for free it seems to be a smart move.

]]> By: Matt, Chicago, IL http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1367 Matt, Chicago, IL Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:37:03 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1367 Starbucks lost my business years ago because they charged for Wi-Fi and their local competition did not. I won't go back just because they've finally realized it was a mistake. I've decided I like the local company's coffee better, anyway! Starbucks lost my business years ago because they charged for Wi-Fi and their local competition did not. I won’t go back just because they’ve finally realized it was a mistake. I’ve decided I like the local company’s coffee better, anyway!

]]> By: Brent, Seattle, WA http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1366 Brent, Seattle, WA Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:54:40 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1366 Tully's has unlimited free wi-fi at their locations... not to mention that they don't roast their coffee to burnt oblivion. I will still frequent Tully's and other independent free wi-fi coffe shops over SBUX. Tully’s has unlimited free wi-fi at their locations… not to mention that they don’t roast their coffee to burnt oblivion. I will still frequent Tully’s and other independent free wi-fi coffe shops over SBUX.

]]> By: Bobby, Fredericksburg, VA http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1365 Bobby, Fredericksburg, VA Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:33:39 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1365 It's <i>caramel</i>, not <i>carmel</i>. It’s caramel, not carmel.

]]> By: Philip Elmer-DeWitt http://techland.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/02/12/is-the-end-of-paying-for-wi-fi-near/#comment-1364 Philip Elmer-DeWitt Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:14:55 +0000 http://fortunetechland.wordpress.com/?p=291#comment-1364 What does this mean for iPhone owners who have AT&T accounts? Do they automatically get free wi-fi on their phones, or do they need to get a Starbucks card? What does this mean for iPhone owners who have AT&T accounts? Do they automatically get free wi-fi on their phones, or do they need to get a Starbucks card?

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