I've written a multitude of times about free Wi-Fi and its potential as a business driver for attracting an increasing remote and mobile workforce. I've written so much, in fact, that you might be growing sick of my rants.Today, though, I only have praise for Starbucks, who announced this week that they are lifting Wi-Fi access restrictions in their stores. Free Wi-Fi for all. No whammies.
Currently, if you are a Starbucks card holder, which I am, you can get two free hours of Wi-Fi. Ordinarily, that is sufficient, especially when I am driving solo. Once a month, though, I "host" an off-site meeting with my remote staff. We're Panera devotees, because we can eat lunch, work and chat, down some dessert and coffee, and work some more with worrying about the Wi-Fi meter running out.
Now I am not pledging to switch our allegiance from Panera to Starbucks. That might cause a mutiny. We love our Panera meetings. However, Starbucks has just stepped up as a candidate for serious consideration for my solo-travel, working pit stops and as a potential meeting location with staff, vendors and others.
Dunkin' Donuts? Not so much. It's not that I don't like Dunkin' Donuts. I could drink caramel-swirl iced coffees with milk all summer long and twice on Mondays. It's just really hard for me to run on Dunkin' when they don't offer Wi-Fi.
Thank you, Starbucks. We road warriors appreciate the gesture, and it's a pretty safe bet you'll get more of our business as a result.
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