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Google ousts AT&T, will provide Wi-Fi to 7,000 Starbucks stores

Published Jul 31st, 2013 5:20PM EDT
Google Starbucks Free Wi-Fi

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Google just raised its profile as an ISP in a big way among espresso-swilling hipsters as the company announced on Wednesday that it has become the official Wi-Fi provider for all 7,000 company-operated Starbucks franchises in the United States. The new Google-enabled Wi-Fi will replace AT&T’s Wi-Fi offerings in Starbucks locations over the next 18 months, and Google is pledging that Starbucks customers will “be able to surf the web at speeds up to 10x faster than before.” And there’s even better news for Starbucks customers in Kansas City and Austin, Tex. — Google says that Google Fiber-connected Wi-Fi hotspots will be up to 100 times faster than old Starbucks Wi-Fi hotspots.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.