Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG) has equipped a Kansas City Starbucks coffee shop, located at the corner of 41st and Main Street, with a direct fiber connection to provide patrons with in-store Wi-Fi Internet access.
Customers will be able to use their wireless smartphones or tablets to connect to the Wi-Fi service over a cup of coffee or latte.
Accompanying the Wi-Fi connection, patrons can use new community tables, which have Chromebooks wired directly to Google Fiber and built-in wireless charging technology to power devices. The store also features a digital community board that allows patrons to share local news, upcoming events and special offers.
Google and network partner Level 3 struck a coup last year when they usurped AT&T (NYSE: T) as the provider supporting coffee chain Starbucks' in-store Wi-Fi service in 7,000 stores throughout the United States.
The service provider said that more than half of the locations are connected to the new network service.
Under the terms of their agreement, the Wi-Fi connection consumers see will be branded as a Google service while Level 3 will manage network connectivity in each store.
For more:
- see this blog post
Related articles:
Google, Level 3 replace AT&T as Starbucks' Internet provider
Frontier beats Google Fiber to the 1 Gig punch in Oregon
Google Fiber's 'fiberhood' plan could further the broadband divide, say critics
Cincinnati Bell's 1 Gig push keeps potential Google Fiber threat at bay
AT&T poses new threat to Google with Cupertino, Calif., 1 Gbps fiber plans