Starbucks Switching Wi-Fi Providers in UK and Ireland

Starbucks is to switch its in-store Wi-Fi service from T-Mobile to British Telecom, covering more than 650 Starbucks coffeehouses in the UK and Ireland. The first stores will have the service installed this week and the roll out will be completed by the end of the summer 2009.

A Starbucks spokesperson commented: "Starbucks has had a very positive, long-standing relationship with T-Mobile in the UK for over five years. Following a review process earlier this year we felt that this was the right time to enter into a new relationship with BT.

"During the transition to BT, T-Mobile customers can still access Wi-Fi in Starbucks coffeehouses as they do today. Once a Starbucks store transitions to BT, T-Mobile customers may roam over the BT Openzone network through the existing Wi-Fi roaming agreement."

O2's iPhone users will also have access included within their contract, and customers from iPass, Boingo and other BT Openzone roaming partners will also be able to use the service.

An existing BT Openzone roaming agreement with AT&T also allows users access at more than 7,000 Starbucks stores in the USA.

Posted to the site on 20th April 2009