Connecting iPhone To Free AT&T Wi-Fi At Starbucks

After a few epic failures, AT&T has finally launched their free Wi-Fi service now available at thousands of hotspots nationwide including Starbucks. The service was originally promised to iPhone subscribers months back. AT&T released an SMS text message announcing the plan. Did you get the memo?. Since most Starbucks locations offer free AT&T Wi-Fi and the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, that's where I chose to test my connection. Complete steps and screen shots are included after the break.

In order to access free Wi-Fi from your iPhone, follow these steps:

• First activate Wi-Fi from the Settings on your iPhone.
• Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks.
• Enter your 10-digit mobile number, agree to the Acceptable Use Policy then tap 'continue'.
• You'll receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot.
• (You will not be charged for the text message)
• Click 'View' to access the text link, click and get activated.
• The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was requested.
• Now type in a URL or check out the new Starbucks features via iTunes.

Unfortunately, the annoying steps above will have to be repeated when accessing Wi-Fi with your iPhone at another hotspot location. Open the original text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot if you return to the same Starbucks location inside of a 24-hour period. It's painfully obvious that AT&T needs to find a more intuitive way to re-connect to Wi-Fi in the near future. 

One of the immediate benefits to free Wi-Fi at Starbucks is being able to quickly download songs directly to your iPhone from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store. When you open iTunes it will instantly connect to the Starbucks content page (sample at top of page). I liked the idea of viewing a playlist of "Recently Played" Starbucks artists. I tried downloading a song and found it to be extremely fast using the Wi-Fi connection. (Be aware that free Wi-Fi is only available at U.S. company-operated Starbucks locations equipped with a hotspot).

Having thousands of activated hotspots availible to iPhone users is a nice perk that has been seriously overdue. It won't change your life, but it might make a Starbucks visit a bit more useful when you're not in the mood for a $4 latte or enduring some dorf wax on about the Phillies World Series win. For more information visit www.att.com/attwifi.