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Starbucks, DT launch Wi-Fi coffeehouse network
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Date: 22 August 2002
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(ICT World)
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Shayne Robinson
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Starbucks, the USA coffee giant, is making its second attempt at launching wireless high-speed Internet connections to its coffee-drinking customers. Last year Starbucks joined forces with Mobile Star Network but Mobile Star pulled the plug shortly afterwards.
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The new T-Mobile HotSpot service has been launched in conjunction with the wireless subsidiaries of Deutsche Telekom AG (DT), T-Mobile International AG and VoiceStream Wireless, the companies announced Wednesday.
This will enable customers in over 1 000 stores to check e-mail, use the Internet and watch streaming video while enjoying their coffee. The WLAN service is making use of Wi-Fi or IEEE 802.11b protocol. The Wi-Fi network will be backed by T-1 connections over T-Mobile's backbone.
There are plans under way to add this service to another 800 locations in the US alone by the end of this year. There will also be pilot projects running in London and Berlin and other European cities will be added at a later date.
To make use of the service, customers would need a T-Mobile HotSpot account and Wi-Fi capability for their notebook computer or Pocket PC.
Hewlett-Packard has also jumped on the bandwagon by offering free downloadable software on its Web site. The Wireless Connection Manager enables users to configure their notebooks and Pocket PCs to automatically sense and connect to available wireless networks.
The fee for using the T-Mobile HotSpot service varies between different plans: from $2,55 for a pay-as-you-go service to $29,99 per month for unlimited local use and $49,99 per month for unlimited national use in the US. Starbucks, T-Mobile and HP are also offering users a free one-time 24-hour trial of the wireless broadband service.
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