Starbucks brewing up free Wi-Fi at all store

From CNET News.com: Starbucks is stirring up a few changes to its Wi-Fi access that should make Web-surfing coffee drinkers happy.

Starting July 1, the coffee brewer said it will launch free Wi-Fi access throughout all of its stores nationwide, with no special registration or account required and no limits on the time people can spend online.

Available through AT&T, the enhanced Wi-Fi improves on the current access, which is free to customers who use their AT&T accounts or Starbucks cards to log in, $3.99 for everyone else, and restricts the time online to no more than two hours.

Appearing at Wired's business conference Disruptive by Design on Monday, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz spoke about the new Wi-Fi access as part of the company's goal to embrace social and digital media and look for new ways to bridge a customer's coffeehouse experience with the digital world.

Beyond the enhanced Wi-Fi access, Schultz also unveiled plans for a new in-store service called the Starbucks Digital Network, slated to come online this fall. Teaming up with Yahoo, Starbucks will offer customers free and unrestricted access to different paid sites and services. Content partners will include WSJ.com, iTunes, The New York Times, Patch, USA Today, Yahoo, and Zagat. Additionally, Schultz said the new network will provide exclusive content, free downloads, and local community news.

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