October 3, 2006 at 1:05 am · Authored by Ewan · Filed under Mobile, Satisfaction, WiFi

Link: Techdirt Corporate Intelligence: Techdirt Wireless - Starbucks Managers Begging To Free Up The WiFi

It doesn’t take an economic genius to figure out that charging for WiFi is a dead end model when the competition is giving it away for free. While many of the restaurants and cafes offering free WiFi are singing its praises as it brings in more customers — especially during the off hours — T-Mobile is stubbornly sticking to their high priced plans. It appears, however, that their major retail partner, Starbucks, may be pushing back.

Carlo saw this and thought of me going nuts in that Starbucks in Paternoster Square in London The above Techdirt article was from almost 2 years ago. No change in the UK. You know what it’s actually no biggie. Starbucks has always monumentally wound me up by never, ever, ever selling any kind of Coca Cola whatsoever. I don’t drink coffee so I end up having to have mineral water or some £5 orange smoothie. Add overpriced Wifi together with the desperate desire to sit there looking cool with my new MacBook (Pro), and no wonder I was blowing a gasket.