iiNet users get free WiFi at Starbucks

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Dan Warne26 February 2009, 8:32 PM

You'll come for the WiFi, but you'll stay for the coffee. iiNet Starbucks. At least, that's how the advertising jingle could go.


You might want to spit the coffee back into the cup, but at least you'll get free WiFi if you're an iiNet customer.

iiNet users will be able to go into any of 20 Starbucks stores and log in with their home username and password to get 100MB free WiFi per month.

It's a sign that the relationship between Starbucks and its original WiFi provider -- Telstra -- has soured, probably due more to Telstra's pricey hotspots than the quality of the coffee served at 'bucks.

Starbucks' website doesn't say how much non-iiNet users will be asked to pay, simply deferring people to 'see in store'.

Starbucks recently slashed its Australian presence after its US parent company faced up to financial woes caused by overly rapid expansion and a collapsing world economy. It closed 61 of its 84 coffee shops, nuking up to 37 Telstra WiFi hotspots in the process.

If you really can't face up to a Venti Skim Grande Latte with Frothed Cream, Sprinkles and Pecan Nuts, you can also search iiNet's database for other free hotspot locations outside Starbucks stores.


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djsflynn (APC staff):

This is a nice bit of value-add for iiNet subscribers – great for quick checking of email and news, movie session times, eBay auction updates etc.

Of course, I'd "come for the WiFi and stay for the WiFi" and avoid the coffee entirely, if I could... unless it's a straight-up espresso which is a bit harder to get wrong compared to a latte or cap.

27 February 2009, 9:06 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting djsflynn:
unless it's a straight-up espresso which is a bit harder to get wrong compared to a latte or cap.

But all too often espresso made from good ingredients ends up tasting something like I'd imagine industrial solvent to taste.

Bad coffee and expensive coffee and outrageously expensive WiFi as a non iiNet subscriber is still good incentive for purchase of a 3G data plan. You can buy a lot of coffee with the change.


27 February 2009, 3:02 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Truckasauras (User):

With so few Starbucks' around these days it barely seems worth while. If they had been able to secure the same deal with Gloria Jeans then I may be a little more excited. As it is, there are no Starbucks in Canberra (where I live) anymore.

27 February 2009, 10:09 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Potoroo (User):

Quoting Truckasauras:
If they had been able to secure the same deal with Gloria Jeans then I may be a little more excited.

I refuse to go to Gloria Jeans. Unknown to many Australians they support an ultra-right wing fundamentalist Christian "charity" called The Mercy Mission here and in the US which preys on troubled teenage girls and denies them adequate psychological and medical treatment. See http://www.crikey.com.au/Politics/20071114-Borders-between-charity-and-Hillsong-church-thin-.html etc.

27 February 2009, 2:33 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Those accusations are clearly not true, or else they'd have been shut down years ago when the accusations started... That would happen regardless of who runs it.

27 February 2009, 11:27 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

AndyCee (Advanced member):

How do people swallow this stuff?

You'll find an excuse not to go to most GJ's (not all, by the way) which is far easier to swallow is because their coffee tastes like a**.

Don't ask me who does my field research, by the way.

28 February 2009, 5:06 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

agami (User):

Most of the larger ISPs are interested in making such deals. Internode's award winning public Wi-Fi offering is a no-brainer as it costs the business hosting the access point the few watts of power it consumes.

The real issue is that most business see an access point as a thing that affects their purchase density. Under regular circumstances a person upon completion of consumption liberates a seat for the next paying customer. A person with a laptop and free Wi-Fi may stick around post consumption and reduce purchase density.

The value of the business a free access point may drive to a place is less than the loss of value of a person choosing another establishment that has unoccupied tables.

27 February 2009, 11:41 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Hemma (User):

McDonalds has a better deal. 50 megs daily, and no subscription with iiNet required.

27 February 2009, 2:13 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

McBanjo (User):

Have you actually used Maccas Wifi? It's slow as hell. It's getting pretty ridiculous when the 3G on my iPhone loads heaps faster. But this is ultimately a good thing for us all, so we shall not whinge.

28 February 2009, 9:36 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

shrike (User):

No one with any sense stays at starbucks for the coffee, americans don't have a friggin clue how to make it properly.

27 February 2009, 6:23 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

AndyCee (Advanced member):

Good deal if you can find a starbucks, or be bothered to go past a McDonalds with 50MB free wifi for everyone (possibly more so if you have a MAC changer and questionable morals).

28 February 2009, 4:59 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

The Big Baboo (User):

Aaaaaaaaargh !!!! Starbuck's,Gloria Jeans,Macca's and anybody else you can think of. What the hell is wrong with you people. You can not I repeat not get a good cup of coffee in these places. Ok the teenagers may have been brainwashed into believing their crap but gentlemen ( and ladies ) Ig you want a good coffee :) Make it yourself or at least have the decency to go to a proper cafe.

11 March 2009, 11:00 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

The Big Baboo (User):

Aaaaaaaaargh !!!! Starbuck's,Gloria Jeans,Macca's and anybody else you can think of. What the hell is wrong with you people. You can not I repeat not get a good cup of coffee in these places. Ok the teenagers may have been brainwashed into believing their crap but gentlemen ( and ladies ) Ig you want a good coffee :) Make it yourself or at least have the decency to go to a proper cafe.

11 March 2009, 11:12 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting The Big Baboo:
Aaaaaaaaargh !!!! Starbuck's,Gloria Jeans,Macca's and anybody else you can think of. What the hell is wrong with you people.

Such emotion! Maybe backing right off the coffee/caffeine for a bit, would be a good thing. :>


11 March 2009, 1:02 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

The Big Baboo (User):

Quoting Raindog:
Quoting The Big Baboo: Aaaaaaaaargh !!!! Starbuck's,Gloria Jeans,Macca's and anybody else you can think of. What the hell is wrong with you people.Such emotion! Maybe backing right off the coffee/caffeine for a bit, would be a good thing. :>

Hey what do you expect "Raindog" I'm Italian and as you probably know the first thing we drink when we're born and pop out of that dark place is a cup of coffee. It prepares us for the bitterness of later life :>





12 March 2009, 9:31 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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