Community Corner
Google to Boost Starbucks' WiFi
Coffee purveyor teams with Internet giant to increase in-store speeds tenfold.
The WiFi service at your local Starbucks may soon appear as if it’s caffeinated, thanks to an agreement between the coffee giant and Google.
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The new Google WiFi will initially be seen at new Starbucks locations over the next month. The company will then roll out the upgraded WiFi service to its remaining 7,000 locations across the country. Starbucks expects the upgrade to take a total of 18 months.
"This is obviously an important milestone in our relationship with Google," Starbucks Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman told CNET. "We do hope this is one step amongst many that we can continue to build upon what is already a great partnership with Google."
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The report said the switch to the new WiFi service stems from the needs of mobile device users and PC users to have access to faster Internet service to stream video and download larger files. Starbucks WiFi is used by millions of customers weekly and the feeling is that faster service could attract more folks through their doors.
Starbucks in the Three Village area include one on Stony Brook Road in Stony Brook, one on Route 25A in East Setauket, and two more with seating on the Stony Brook University campus. Specifics on when those locations will receive its WiFi upgrade have yet to be revealed.
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