Starbucks and Google to Sell Coffee with Wi-Fi

Starbucks Coffee Company announced Wednesday the selection of Google to provide the next generation of its Wi-Fi offering for its customers.

Beginning this month (August), new U.S. company-operated Starbucks stores will begin to receive up to 10 times faster network and Wi-Fi speeds.

Over the next 18 months, Starbucks will convert more than 7,000 U.S. stores to the upgraded store network and Wi-Fi experience.

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“Every day, our customers rely on the free Wi-Fi at Starbucks to study, work, connect with friends or just relax. We want to make sure that they can access the web effortlessly and quickly, no matter what they’re doing, or what device they are using,” said Adam Brotman, chief digital officer, Starbucks.

“Our goal is to continue to provide our customers with the best in-store experience possible, and we are excited to offer these kinds of unparalleled experiences at a broad scale.”

A few days ago, Duracell Powermat announced the availability of wireless charging in select Starbucks stores in the Silicon Valley area.

The expansion of the wireless charging evaluation follows a successful test of the wireless charging technology in select Starbucks stores in the Boston area. (Read: Put Your Phone on Starbucks Table to Charge It)

In addition to providing faster Wi-Fi, Starbucks and Google will also work together to co-develop the next-generation Starbucks Digital Network.

“We hope that speedier Internet will make the time customers spend at Starbucks even more enjoyable and productive,” said Kevin Lo, the general manager of Google Access.

Starbucks and Google will work with Level 3 Communications, an international telecommunications company, to bring faster Wi-Fi connectivity to Starbucks stores.

Level 3 will upgrade existing Wi-Fi devices and will manage in-store connectivity in more than 7,000 company-owned stores in the U.S.