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T-Mobile, Starbucks Scuffle Over In-Store Wi-Fi

Posted by Travis Hudson | Monday, June 09, 2008 8:21 AM PT

T-Mobile seems to be the only ones that have a problem with Starbuck's new Wi-Fi system as the German company has sued Starbucks.

The lawsuit regards Starbucks' transition method while switching from T-Mobile to AT&T for in-store Internet. The agreement reached earlier this year said that T-Mobile had the rights to "sell, market and promote its services" at all Starbucks locations until every Starbucks is converted to the AT&T wireless Internet system.

T-Mobile says that with the limited markets currently supporting the AT&T wireless Internet, Starbucks has breached the contract with the launch of the Starbucks Card Rewards and other promotions.

At this point, T-Mobile is just pulling at every string left for its floundering hotspot service. With free wireless Internet becoming a big trend, the time is ticking on T-Mobile's $10-per-24-hour Internet service. I'd say it's time for T-Mobile to reevaluate its hotspot service and give its customers what they really want: free Wi-Fi.

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