T-Mobile says, "the announcement regarding the Starbucks Wi-Fi operations will not impact T-Mobile HotSpot customers' ability to use Wi-Fi services at Starbucks locations for years to come.
In fact, the Wi-Fi network operations transition will not begin until later this year. Even after the transition, T-Mobile HotSpot and HotSpot@Home customers will continue to experience seamless Wi-Fi access at Starbucks locations for at least the next five years under a roaming agreement between T-Mobile USA and AT&T.
There will be no additional charge for T-Mobile HotSpot and Hotspot @Home customers at Starbucks.
T-Mobile HotSpot and T-Mobile HotSpot @Home customers also will continue to benefit from our commitment to remain the innovation leader for consumer Wi-Fi. We remain focused on working with our HotSpot venue partners on delivering seamless integrated broadband experiences with exciting new services on innovative devices that will drive HotSpot as an experience, rather than just a destination."
"We are still the only national wireless carrier that is actively expanding the use of Wi-Fi in and outside of customers' homes through our innovative T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service, which allows users to make and receive phone calls using Wi-Fi and HotSpot@Home enabled mobile devices," said Joe Sims, vice president and general manager, Broadband Products and Services, T-Mobile USA.
Therefore, T-Mobile HotSpot users can still drink their Starbucks coffee and surf with out a fee.