Starbucks and Others: the Future of Public Wi-Fi

1. Do you agree the plans by Starbucks to offer time-limited free Wi-Fi to customers? Do you think free Wi-Fi would be enough to instill that kind of loyalty? Based on the experience of the other coffee houses reported above, do you think free access was a critical factor in developing a loyal customer base? I’m think that free Wi-Fi would be enough to instill that kind of loyalty. McDonald’s and Starbucks both have partnerships with AT&T, which, while often criticized for the quality of its wireless data network, is one of the largest Wi-Fi hotspot providers in the United States. It could provide a fast and efficient network to those customers who is using Wi-Fi. Starbucks was one of the first chains to offer Wi-Fi access to its patrons, first via an agreement with T-Mobile and then with AT&T. Starbucks visitors have been able to enjoy up to two hours of free Wi-Fi from their favorite coffee house, provided they are either an AT&T customer or they use a Starbucks Card to login. The new program will do away with any sort of registration, which will make those of us who always forget either our AT&T account information or can’t find our Starbucks cards extremely happy.
I’m think that free access was a critical factor in developing a loyal customer base. As we know, all the coffee house nowadays are providing Wi-Fi. For those who have not providing Wi-Fi services will be fail to lure to get patron. For example, Starbucks has offer Wi-Fi access to its patron. Many of the business man or college students are liking to sit there with purchase a coffee and use the Wi-Fi to online. They will enjoy the moment by drink the coffee and online to chat with friends, online buying and so on. In the Seattle’s Bauhaus Books and Coffee also has long relies on free Wi-Fi to help bring in customers.

2. Part of the reason for Starbucks’s move had to do with increased