If you’re rich enough to go to Starbucks, then you probably enjoy the free internet they provide. Google being an internet company, they think they can do a better job at providing internet access than anyone else, which is why they just announced “all 7,000 company-operated Starbucks stores in the United States over the next 18 months” will switch to Google WiFi.
What happens if you don’t live in the United States? Tough luck. You’ll have to wait. Knowing how these things work, however, if Starbucks is happy with the job Google does in the US, then it’s highly likely they’ll give Google permission to start connecting their stores in other countries as well.
And if you’ve made it this far down the article, do me a favor: Don’t go to Starbucks. Your local mom and pop is chain probably makes coffee that tastes a million times better. I can tell you this from experience after traveling through five or six South East Asian countries, the locals do an epic job. (lapeerhealth)