Comments on: Is Starbucks WiFi having problems? http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/ Using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:34:57 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: David http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-71147 David Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:51:22 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-71147 I'm a T-Mobile user, and noticed the jumpiness in service. I got annoyed by the occasional disconnects, but it wasn't THAT irritating. (Yet.) Now, connection still works fine for the most part at T-Mobile brand hotspots like Kinko's and the rare Starbucks that hasn't switched. But at AT&T locations, the disconnects seem to be getting worse. Yesterday while waiting on a friend in an unfamiliar city, an AT&T location dropped connection on me after an hour. ("could not find the server at blahblah.com") No big deal, I'm getting used to this by now, I officially disconnect from the Starbucks wifi and then reconnect. No luck. I turn off my AirPort, wait a bit, and turn it back on. No luck with that either. So I go with the last technique that usually works, shut down and then bring the computer back up. Still nothing. An hour and a half of intermittent trying the above techniques and others, I just gave up and left since I'd run out of things I could do offline. Fortunately, my friend got out of work soon after. Anyone else have this happening? And is it just me, or does it come across as an extremely unsubtle way of trying to either 1) make people switch to AT&T or 2) automatedly "kick out" people who Starbucks corporate thinks are unprofitable? I’m a T-Mobile user, and noticed the jumpiness in service. I got annoyed by the occasional disconnects, but it wasn’t THAT irritating. (Yet.) Now, connection still works fine for the most part at T-Mobile brand hotspots like Kinko’s and the rare Starbucks that hasn’t switched. But at AT&T locations, the disconnects seem to be getting worse.

Yesterday while waiting on a friend in an unfamiliar city, an AT&T location dropped connection on me after an hour. (“could not find the server at blahblah.com”) No big deal, I’m getting used to this by now, I officially disconnect from the Starbucks wifi and then reconnect. No luck. I turn off my AirPort, wait a bit, and turn it back on. No luck with that either. So I go with the last technique that usually works, shut down and then bring the computer back up. Still nothing.

An hour and a half of intermittent trying the above techniques and others, I just gave up and left since I’d run out of things I could do offline. Fortunately, my friend got out of work soon after.

Anyone else have this happening? And is it just me, or does it come across as an extremely unsubtle way of trying to either 1) make people switch to AT&T or 2) automatedly “kick out” people who Starbucks corporate thinks are unprofitable?

]]> By: kiofel http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-50600 kiofel Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:32:41 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-50600 My Starbucks att card never depletes. I've charged the thing about a half a dozen times up until a month ago. Now it just seems to connect me for hours on end without charging me a cent. Oh well. My Starbucks att card never depletes. I’ve charged the thing about a half a dozen times up until a month ago. Now it just seems to connect me for hours on end without charging me a cent. Oh well.

]]> By: nani hoaloha http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4792 nani hoaloha Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:44:57 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4792 <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>I figured out the problem....</p> <p>...Lots of people (myself included) are experiencing authentication failures because the login servers are unable to keep up with the traffic. The presentation of this is: invalid username and/or password.</p> <p>A quick call to the Starbucks Card customer service confirmed that they’ve been fielding questions about the service outage, but according to Michael (the frazzled [rep] that answered my call), they don’t have an ETA for the outage resolution. They’re hoping for service restoration soon, but no guarantees.</p> <p><a href="http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/free_att_wifi_swamps_starbucks_servers" rel="nofollow">http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/free_att_wifi_swamps_starbucks_servers</a></p></div>

I figured out the problem….

…Lots of people (myself included) are experiencing authentication failures because the login servers are unable to keep up with the traffic. The presentation of this is: invalid username and/or password.

A quick call to the Starbucks Card customer service confirmed that they’ve been fielding questions about the service outage, but according to Michael (the frazzled [rep] that answered my call), they don’t have an ETA for the outage resolution. They’re hoping for service restoration soon, but no guarantees.

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/6/free_att_wifi_swamps_starbucks_servers

]]> By: Hyped http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4793 Hyped Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:46:44 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4793 <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <p>Same problem as B Knotts. I can't log in but can log in to the maintenance page. However, if I select the "forgot password" link (even though I know it!) and then let it generate a password for me, it works. Pain in the butt though!!!<br /> What's going on???</p> </div>

Same problem as B Knotts. I can’t log in but can log in to the maintenance page. However, if I select the “forgot password” link (even though I know it!) and then let it generate a password for me, it works. Pain in the butt though!!!
What’s going on???

]]> By: nani hoaloha http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4794 nani hoaloha Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:25:17 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4794 <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <p>Exact same thing a B Knotts....</p> </div>

Exact same thing a B Knotts….

]]> By: Buzz Bruggeman http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4796 Buzz Bruggeman Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:05:40 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4796 <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <p>It's good to know that I am not the only one with problems. It seems that in some stores T-Mobile works, and in others ATT works. My guess is that the staff is immune to the problem, tech support is a hassle, and T-Mobile has this who undertaking in the rear view mirror, hence leaving customers sucking the gas pipe....</p> </div>

It’s good to know that I am not the only one with problems. It seems that in some stores T-Mobile works, and in others ATT works. My guess is that the staff is immune to the problem, tech support is a hassle, and T-Mobile has this who undertaking in the rear view mirror, hence leaving customers sucking the gas pipe….

]]> By: Charles H http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4799 Charles H Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:15:17 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4799 <p>I had the exact same experience as B Knotts did - could log in to the AT&T Account Maintenance page but not the AT&T WiFi. That was in Lansing, MI at 8:30pm EST. </p> I had the exact same experience as B Knotts did – could log in to the AT&T Account Maintenance page but not the AT&T WiFi. That was in Lansing, MI at 8:30pm EST.

]]> By: B Knotts http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4802 B Knotts Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:36:32 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4802 <p>I got a Starbucks card and created the necessary accounts, but have not been able to log in successfully at any Starbucks location. At the first location I tried, I couldn't even get to the login page. Since then, I've been able to get to the AT&T login page, which then tries to authenticate against T-Mobile (yes, I connected to "attwifi"), which then fails ("Please check your user name and password and re-enter.")</p> <p>I can, while I'm connected, log into the AT&T account maintenance page, so I know I've got the proper username/password. I just enter my basic username and pick "AT&T Wifi" from the drop-down menu. Hopefully, that's the right way, although I also tried appending "@attwifi.com" just for laughs. Still no go.</p> I got a Starbucks card and created the necessary accounts, but have not been able to log in successfully at any Starbucks location. At the first location I tried, I couldn’t even get to the login page. Since then, I’ve been able to get to the AT&T login page, which then tries to authenticate against T-Mobile (yes, I connected to “attwifi”), which then fails (“Please check your user name and password and re-enter.”)

I can, while I’m connected, log into the AT&T account maintenance page, so I know I’ve got the proper username/password. I just enter my basic username and pick “AT&T Wifi” from the drop-down menu. Hopefully, that’s the right way, although I also tried appending “@attwifi.com” just for laughs. Still no go.

]]> By: Imran Anwar http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4804 Imran Anwar Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:21:54 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4804 <p>Glad to run into this posting. I signed up with Starbucks (where I don't even like the coffee) to use the 2 hours plan if needed, but was not able to get online except once.</p> <p>First time it took 18 minutes before the sbsglobal.something.com website authenticated me. The next time it took 1 hour and I could not connect. The only other person in the place said it took him half an hour before his Dell connected. I tried with both Mac OS X and Windows on separate machines.</p> <p>When you connect to attwifi it still actually goes through some T-Mobil network to connect to the Southwestern Bell (SBC?) type old AT&T server to validate and that is ugly in responding.</p> <p>Glad someone is exposing this BS service.</p> <p>Imran</p> Glad to run into this posting. I signed up with Starbucks (where I don’t even like the coffee) to use the 2 hours plan if needed, but was not able to get online except once.

First time it took 18 minutes before the sbsglobal.something.com website authenticated me. The next time it took 1 hour and I could not connect. The only other person in the place said it took him half an hour before his Dell connected. I tried with both Mac OS X and Windows on separate machines.

When you connect to attwifi it still actually goes through some T-Mobil network to connect to the Southwestern Bell (SBC?) type old AT&T server to validate and that is ugly in responding.

Glad someone is exposing this BS service.

Imran

]]> By: Robt http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4806 Robt Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:39:55 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4806 <p>I have experienced the same issue at at least 2 SB's in the past month. Both AT&T and T-Mobile are present but can't connect to either of them. Friday while traveling in the Denver area, same thing again and when I pulled up the OTA iTunes app on the iPhone, the UI was blinking like a strobe everytime I tried to see the SB portion of the store and "purchase what is playing now"</p> I have experienced the same issue at at least 2 SB’s in the past month. Both AT&T and T-Mobile are present but can’t connect to either of them. Friday while traveling in the Denver area, same thing again and when I pulled up the OTA iTunes app on the iPhone, the UI was blinking like a strobe everytime I tried to see the SB portion of the store and “purchase what is playing now”

]]> By: David Cournoyer http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4809 David Cournoyer Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:31:49 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4809 <p>I have had no problems logging into at&t at Starbucks.</p> I have had no problems logging into at&t at Starbucks.

]]> By: Will http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4811 Will Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:24:09 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4811 <p>I used the AT&T access point by grabbing one of their cards and registering it. When I registered, it went through fine, but wouldn't let me login afterwords, even though I could login to manage my account, just not get on the internet. I called the support line, and with no wait at 5 PM on a Friday, she reset my password and I was on my way.</p> I used the AT&T access point by grabbing one of their cards and registering it. When I registered, it went through fine, but wouldn’t let me login afterwords, even though I could login to manage my account, just not get on the internet. I called the support line, and with no wait at 5 PM on a Friday, she reset my password and I was on my way.

]]> By: Mickey Segal http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4814 Mickey Segal Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:14:12 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4814 <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Today I used an iPod Touch in a Starbucks, and clicked on the ATT wireless service (T-Mobile was offered too). I didn't click through to any of the pay or loyalty card options. Nevertheless, the ATT service worked for connecting to Apple's AppStore. </p> <p>I don't know if this was a bug or a feature (possibly related to the iPhone / ATT deal), but it was convenient. </p></div>

Today I used an iPod Touch in a Starbucks, and clicked on the ATT wireless service (T-Mobile was offered too). I didn’t click through to any of the pay or loyalty card options. Nevertheless, the ATT service worked for connecting to Apple’s AppStore.

I don’t know if this was a bug or a feature (possibly related to the iPhone / ATT deal), but it was convenient.

]]> By: James Kendrick http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4816 James Kendrick Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:47:24 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4816 <p>Travis, most Starbucks now have both AT&T and T-Mobile as a result of SBUX switching. They have to carry both for a time.</p> Travis, most Starbucks now have both AT&T and T-Mobile as a result of SBUX switching. They have to carry both for a time.

]]> By: Travis http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4818 Travis Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:19:00 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4818 <p>I'm confused. Does Starbucks have AT&T or T-Mobile wireless internet in their stores?</p> I’m confused. Does Starbucks have AT&T or T-Mobile wireless internet in their stores?

]]> By: JM http://jkontherun.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi/#comment-4821 JM Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:41:06 +0000 http://jkontherun.wordpress.com/2008/08/09/is-starbucks-wi#comment-4821 <p>Over the course of 2-3 months, as my local Starbucks has transitioned to integrate the T-Mobile and AT&T WiFi, there were some teething problems I noted. I have AT&T Pro Elite Tier DSL service at home and included in my monthly subscription is the ability to log on to any AT&T hot spot. About a month ago I could not get on because the AT&T portion kept defaulting me to a T-Mobile error page. I also had some intermittent issues getting logged on. Yesterday it worked very well, and I was able to work at my "mobile office" and enjoy coffee with no issues. One thing I did notice was that the auto log in page that comes up is Java based. On my MacBook Pro, Dell XPS M1220, Toshiba Libretto, Samsung Q1 (Celeron), and IBM ThinkPad X41 it pulls up that log in page with minimal lag. But on my Fujitsu U810 the page lags up to 5 minutes before pulling up the full page. In either XP or Vista, the U810 takes so long to pull up the page that I sometimes resort to my Sprint USB Air Card 595U, because I have to reload the page multiple times. Other than that it has been smooth at my local Starbucks .... now if they can do something about music there ....</p> Over the course of 2-3 months, as my local Starbucks has transitioned to integrate the T-Mobile and AT&T WiFi, there were some teething problems I noted. I have AT&T Pro Elite Tier DSL service at home and included in my monthly subscription is the ability to log on to any AT&T hot spot. About a month ago I could not get on because the AT&T portion kept defaulting me to a T-Mobile error page. I also had some intermittent issues getting logged on. Yesterday it worked very well, and I was able to work at my “mobile office” and enjoy coffee with no issues. One thing I did notice was that the auto log in page that comes up is Java based. On my MacBook Pro, Dell XPS M1220, Toshiba Libretto, Samsung Q1 (Celeron), and IBM ThinkPad X41 it pulls up that log in page with minimal lag. But on my Fujitsu U810 the page lags up to 5 minutes before pulling up the full page. In either XP or Vista, the U810 takes so long to pull up the page that I sometimes resort to my Sprint USB Air Card 595U, because I have to reload the page multiple times. Other than that it has been smooth at my local Starbucks …. now if they can do something about music there ….

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