As most of my colleagues and customers know, I tend to spend a significant portion of my work-week at Starbucks. During my tenure as a Starbucks-as-an-Office consumership, I have been asked how to get onto the AT&T Wifi in the store on a number of occasions. There have been other times where I have overheard people talking about it who were confused as to the process of getting free Internet access but decided to remain incognito for fear of becoming a free technical support for the entire neighborhood.

It’s now Saturday morning, and I am here at “my Starbucks” even as I write this. I always order my drink first-thing (a venti iced coffee with sweetener and room, if anyone ever wants to treat me). Today, when the barista ashamedly told me she couldn’t remember my name, and I said it was Travis, she returned with a smile, a slight finger-point, and explained “we were talking about you in our meeting on Sunday!”

Really? I wonder what this is about.

She continued on to tell me that they have (un)officially named me their official send-to person when people have Wifi questions.

In an attempt to continue to be able to get actual work done here, as opposed to providing free and unlimited tech support, I’m putting together a quick-start sheet for them. My gift to them. Er… my gift to my own productivity.

So, with no further delay… I present Travis’ Quick Start to Free-Loading the Internet from the ‘Bux

1. Obtain a Starbucks card and be sure there is at least $5 on it. You can buy one at the store if you don’t have one. If you’re at the Brea Gateway store, buy two cards, and leave one with the barista with my name on it. I thank you in advance.
2. Connect your computer to the ATTWIFI wireless network (if asked if you are “sure” if you want to connect to this “unsecured network” the answer is “yes”).
3. Once connected, open a browser and go to https://secure.sbc.com/sblp_index.adp
4. Click the Sign Up button at the bottom of the page
5. Click through the wizard, which will lead you through logging into Starbucks.com, then will get some of your personal info, and lastly will get your Starbucks card number.
6. Once you create an account on the AT&T page, simply try to go to any other website (google.com is my usual).
7. When you get to the page with the login at the top, enter your new AT&T username and password, and be sure to select “AT&T Wifi” in the pull-down as well as check the box that you agree to AT&T’s lawyer’s demands.
8. You should be set to go! Enjoy your free Internet access!

Some may be quick to point out that anyone with AT&T DSL service can simply login with their AT&T DSL username in that top-box, and save the hassle of creating a new account.

For those of us with AT&T cellular service including an aircard or phone tethering (wireless mobile Internet on a laptop via the AT&T cell towers), you have to use the AT&T Communicator application to connect to the cellular network first, then use Communicator to switch to Wifi. The Communicator program will login to Wifi for you, allowing unlimited access to the network just because you have a cell card.

If you find the instructions helpful, come find me and say hello. I’m tall and slender and spend my time at the Brea Gateway store (Brea & Imperial) most days of the week.

If you have trouble with these instructions and need some more help, you should look for me at the Fullerton drive-through store (Imperial & Harbor). Look for a heavy-set older gentleman named Steve. He’s probably sleeping on the sofa.