Starbucks and AT&T have revealed the details of their much discussed free Wi-Fi plan (up to 2 hours daily). To use the free access you must create an AT&T Wi-Fi account, use your Starbucks card once within the last 30 days (loading money to the card counts as use - and loading money is free), and agree to let AT&T spam you send up to four emails per year. In exchange you get access to a maximum of 2 hours of free Wi-Fi per day which has to be in one session (you can’t leave and come back in the same day). Update: Tested this at the Glastonbury CT Starbucks and the AT&T Wi-Fi account I created via the AT&T page (link below) allowed me to connect.

Link: Create your free AT&T Wi-Fi account
Link: Frequently Asked Questions About Starbucks Rewards

The free AT&T Wi-Fi that iPhone users were enjoying at Starbucks last week seems destined to be expanded (all AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots) and made permanent for those using an iPhone on the AT&T network. Several users spotted an update to AT&T’s iPhone plan which clearly states:

To use iPhone, you’ll need to sign up for a 2-year service agreement. Plans start at $59.99 and include Visual Voicemail, Unlimited Data (email and web), 200 SMS text messages and access to AT&T’s more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, including Starbucks* all for use in the U.S.
*Wi-Fi available at U.S. company operated Starbucks locations equipped with a hotspot.

Via: MacRumors - AT&T Officially Lists Wi-Fi Hotspot Access with iPhone Plans
Link: AT&T iPhone Plan Information

You’ve probably noticed that earlier this week AT&T turned on free WIFI access for some of their Starbucks and Barnes and Noble locations. The login screen (depicted above) automatically authenticates any iPhone user who enters their phone number. Now someone has figured out how to “spoof” this login process to make a laptop browser appear to be an iPhone browser - thus granting free WIFI on a laptop. While spoofing your browser’s user agent (see link below) may be considered hacking by some, I think it’s more likely a brilliant move on the part of AT&T to bring traffic into retail stores that host the WIFI access points. WIFI is somewhat of a commodity and there is probably more value in using it to attract customers to a store (and away from online shopping) than in selling WIFI subscriptions. Here’s the link below if you want free WIFI via your Laptop. Note: You’ll still need to enter in a valid iPhone telephone number and your mileage may vary on which Starbucks and Barnes and Nobles offer this free service - as reported by Patrick at JustAnotherIphoneBlog.

Link: Get Free Wi-Fi Access on Your Laptop at Starbucks, Barnes and Noble