World's Largest Wi-Fi Network Now Accessible in Approximately 1,200 Starbucks Locations in the United States and Europe
San Francisco, Calif. — Aug. 21, 2002
High-speed wireless Internet access becomes faster, simpler and more convenient today as Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX), T-Mobile International, the wireless subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE:DT), and HP (NYSE: HPQ) officially launch T-Mobile HotSpot service in Starbucks coffeehouses.
As easy as ordering their latte, Starbucks customers can check e-mail, surf the Web, watch streaming video or download multi-media presentations in the comfort of Starbucks via a fast, reliable standards based wireless Internet connection for notebook computers and Pocket PCs. Starting today, Starbucks customers can trial T-Mobile HotSpot service for free at approximately 1,200 Starbucks stores in the United States. An additional 800 Starbucks locations in the U.S. are scheduled to feature the service by the end of the year. With an eye toward global expansion, Starbucks and T-Mobile have also initiated a six-month pilot in select London and Berlin locations.
"This service is a natural extension of the Starbucks coffeehouse experience, which has always been about making connections with the people and information that are important to us over a cup of coffee," said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman and chief global strategist. "Mobile professionals across the globe have been waiting for just such an offering: high-speed wireless Internet access in a familiar and widely available location that keeps them connected while on the road, or between the home and office. It's the right service offered in the right environment."
T-Mobile HotSpot service uses standards based "Wi-Fi" (802.11b) technology and is easily accessible for Starbucks customers with a wireless-ready notebook computer or Pocket PC. Backed by T-1 connections in popular venues in the U.S., T-Mobile HotSpot service is reliable and fast enough to accommodate the full spectrum of applications from checking e-mail to multi-media video conferencing with a high-speed wireless connection as much as 40 - 50 times faster than standard dial-up Internet access.
As the preferred technology provider for Starbucks corporate headquarters and its network of retail stores, HP also introduces the new Wireless Connection Manager. The free, downloadable software makes it simple for mobile professionals to configure their wirelessly enabled notebook and Pocket PCs to automatically sense and connect to available wireless networks, making the move from home to office to Starbucks a breeze. The easy-to-use Wireless Connection Manager software will assist Starbucks customers in moving between T-Mobile HotSpot and other wireless networks in which they may connect. Starbucks customers can visit www.starbucks.com/hotspot to download the free HP software and order specially bundled HP mobile products such as Evo notebook computers, iPAQ Pocket PCs, and Wireless PC cards.
With today's announcement, the service is now available at Starbucks stores in Atlanta; Austin, TX; Boston; Connecticut; Denver; Dallas-Ft-Worth; Houston; New York; New Jersey; Philadelphia; Portland, OR; the San Francisco Bay area; and the Seattle-Puget Sound region. Additionally, stores in southern California, including Los Angeles; Chicago; Maryland; Pittsburgh; Virginia; and Washington DC, are scheduled to be enabled before the end of the calendar year. Customers can easily identify which of their favorite Starbucks have broadband wireless Internet access by looking for the T-Mobile HotSpot sign near Starbucks entrances or by visiting Starbucks and T-Mobile's websites.
The service is also available in select Starbucks stores in London and Berlin. Additional cities will be added to the European pilot over the next several months.
John Stanton, Chairman, T-Mobile, U.S. Operations, said T-Mobile HotSpot service demonstrates how T-Mobile is using its leadership position in wireless data to deliver on its "Get More" Promise(R) to customers, enabling them to use the most current innovations in wireless services to get more from life(R). "Our relationship with Starbucks and HP demonstrates T-Mobile's commitment to deliver on the promise of fast, reliable, and convenient wireless Internet access," said Stanton. "Today, T-Mobile's HotSpot service represents the largest carrier-owned 802.11b network in the world and a powerful, comprehensive service offering when combined with the reach of our nationwide GSM/GPRS voice and high-speed data network. T-Mobile will continue to form alliances with great partners, like Starbucks, to deliver what customers crave from wireless data services -- coverage where they want it, and speed when they need it."
"HP's vision is to eliminate the boundaries of mobile computing, making wireless access fast, easy and rewarding," said Michael Capellas, president of HP. "Not only does HP offer the broadest array of innovative mobile technology today, but we're collaborating with Starbucks and T-Mobile on future technologies to deliver a constant stream of wireless products and places to enrich the mobile experience for our mutual customers worldwide."
To connect, customers need a T-Mobile HotSpot account and Wi-Fi capability for their notebook computer or Pocket PC. To log in to the service and establish a connection, customers with a properly configured notebook or Pocket PC simply need to launch their Internet browser from within a participating Starbucks and login.
T-Mobile is offering Starbucks customers a Free Day Pass, available in participating Starbucks locations, to get a free one-time 24 hour trial of the wireless broadband service. Additionally, T-Mobile offers a variety of Internet access service plans to accommodate the needs of all customers, including National and Local Unlimited monthly subscription plans, as well as Prepay and Pay-As-You-Go plans. Rate and location information can be found at www.t-mobile.com/hotspot/.
According to the Yankee Group 2002 Corporate Wireless Survey, almost 25 percent of all enterprise workers are considered mobile, spending more that 20 percent of their time away from their workspace. This equates to approximately 40 million mobile professionals in the U.S. who still want and need access to their e-mail, the Internet, or their corporate intranet. A number of corporate customers in the U.S. are participating in a pilot to extend faster and more affordable remote access options to their mobile workforces. Starbucks customers, including KPMG Consulting Inc., John L. Scott Real Estate, and others, have found that the service keeps them connected while they're away from the office-offering them a familiar, comfortable location, with the benefit of a high-speed Internet connection.
"Today's mobile executives want the flexibility of wireless Internet access," said Michael Surface, managing director for Retail/Wholesale, KPMG Consulting, Inc., which also has Starbucks as a client. "We are seeing growing interest from consumers for breakthrough wireless capabilities. Starbucks has pioneered this space by offering this technology in its retail stores, enabling consumers to stay connected while on the road."
Lindsay Morio
T-Mobile USA Media Relations
425-383-4002
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the first quarter of 2010, approximately 150 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group - 33.7 million by T-Mobile USA - all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world's most widely used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile USA's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.
About Starbucks Coffee Company
Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world. In addition to retail locations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim, Starbucks sells coffee and tea products through its specialty operations, including its online store at Starbucks.com. Additionally, Starbucks produces and sells bottled Frappuccino(R) coffee drink, Starbucks DoubleShot(TM) and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships. The Company's other brands enhance the Starbucks Experience through best-of-class products: Tazo Tea Company offers a line of innovative premium teas, and Hear Music produces and distributes a line of exceptional compact discs.
About HP
HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and businesses. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP completed its merger transaction involving Compaq Computer Corp. on May 3, 2002. The company would have had combined revenue on a pro forma basis with the Compaq transaction of approximately $81.1 billion in fiscal 2001 and has operations in more than 160 countries. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
About T-Mobile, U.S. Operations
Based in Bellevue, Wash., VoiceStream Wireless Corp. is one of the fastest growing wireless service providers in the United States. Its new T-Mobile brand debuted in the U.S. with the launch of service in California and Nevada in July and VoiceStream will transition its current VoiceStream brand to T-Mobile nationwide by the end of the year. VoiceStream is committed to providing the best value in wireless service through its "GET MORE" Promise(R) to provide customers with more minutes, more features and more service than any other wireless provider. VoiceStream is a leading provider of standards based wireless Internet access for mobile users operating the largest all digital GSM/GPRS voice and high speed data network in the country and the largest carrier owned `Wi-Fi' 802.11b wireless broadband, (WLAN) network in the world, with service in popular Starbucks coffeehouses, American Airlines Admirals Clubs, and select airport locations. VoiceStream is a member of the T-Mobile International group, the mobile telecommunications subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom (NYSE "DT"). Through its subsidiaries and other investments, Deutsche Telekom serves more than 69 million wireless subscribers worldwide, ranking it one of the top three wireless carriers globally. For more information, visit the company web site at www.t-mobile.com.