Starbucks Partners With Google to Speed Up Wi-Fi in Stores

What's This?

By Seth Fiegerman2013-07-31 13:11:59 UTC

If you've ever felt the Internet connection at your local Starbucks is too slow, you're in luck.

Starbucks is planning to upgrade the Wi-Fi speeds in more than 7,000 of its stores in the United States over the next year and a half, with help from Google, the coffee chain announced Wednesday.

See also: 14 Google Tools You Didn't Know Existed

Starting this week, every new Starbucks store will have a Wi-Fi connection up to 10 times faster than the speed currently available in existing stores. Older stores will have Wi-Fi connections upgraded as well, with top priority given to stores with the most Wi-Fi usage.

Starbucks stores are currently equipped with T1 lines, which have data speeds of about 1.5 megabits per second. Adam Brotman, chief digital officer for Starbucks, tells Mashable that Starbucks is working with Google and Level 3 Communications to upgrade each store with a variety of solutions — including DSL, cable modems and multiple T1s — depending on what's appropriate.

"We really focus on how this enhances the customer experience and we believe if we continue to focus on that, good things will come to our business downstream," Brotman said in response to a question about investing in free Wi-Fi helps Starbucks' bottom line. "We do believe that all the things we do to enhance the in-store experience enhance sales."

Google will help Starbucks design some of its Wi-Fi experience, and the tech giant's branding will appear on the Wi-Fi network name and the splash page with the terms of service.

Have you ever experienced slow Wi-Fi at a Starbucks store? Tell us in the comments below.

Image: Starbucks

Topics: Business, starbucks, wi-fi, Work & Play