I think this is a little different scenario than having a cybercafe. If I read this press release correctly, the customer uses their own devices, but they get high-speed. If this is executed correctly, individual starbucks stores should not need a lot of techno-savvy employees and they would not have to dedicate space to computer workstations. They would probably sell the wireless modems and maybe have a manual for it to help with configuration. Even when they do set a customer up, they would theoretically only have to do this once per customer, which seems better than the on-going maintenance required for in-store PCs. Of course, I could be wrong about that. I agree that Starbucks will probably not get into the gaming business. This seems like pure connectivity to the internet, nothing more. It's one more reason for people to go to Starbucks, rather than somewhere else. Microsoft and AOL are really focusing on bringing the internet to customers with nearly any device. Games don't really fit well in that paradigm. How do independants fight Starbucks? I was recently in Boulder, Colorado and I noticed that the cup I was drinking from listed all of the other independant cafes in Boulder. They have banded together, in some sense, to fight against chains. Are any of the cyber-cafe owners on this list doing that yet? Kind of a co-op strategy, I guess? It might be an interesting topic to explore... "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" wrote: > well they said that about turning all their cafes into cybercafes > a couple years ago and it was not a go... > > Kireau Kendrick > The Cybercafe Search Engine > Cafe Cybercaptive, San Mateo, CA > http://cybercaptive.com > > On Thu, 4 Jan 2001, Erich wrote: > > > Todays USA Today (front page of the life section) says Starbucks will be > > doing the wireless internet access part in some if not all of their stores > > in the spring. Sounds like a go. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 11:26 AM > > Subject: Re: [cc] Starbucks Goes Broadband > > > > > > > i agree. also Starbucks put a cybercafe here in > > > SF a couple years ago and removed the computers > > > shortly after (1yr?). it was supposed to be a > > > pilot for all their cafes and didnt amount to > > > anything. > > > > > > Kireau Kendrick > > > The Cybercafe Search Engine > > > Cafe Cybercaptive, San Mateo, CA > > > http://cybercaptive.com > > > > > > On Thu, 4 Jan 2001 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > > > > > Hi all from the states :) > > > > > > > > Regarding the whole Starbucks and cybercafe issue, I wouldn't worry too > > much. > > > > From what I've heard from a few friends in Seattle (one of whom is one > > the > > > > of them managers at one of their test cybercafes) they might well be > > dropping > > > > the "brand." It seems they are running into the problem of the cost of > > > > retrofitting their outfits in terms of wiring and space. Apparently > > such is > > > > cost is about double what they expected and the higher ups are > > expressing > > > > much concern about the idea of continuing. If I hear anything more I'll > > pass > > > > it along. > > > > > > > > Beth > > > > Cafe Aroma Borealis > > > > Lancaster, PA > > > > 18 days til we open! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > **********Footer message for &LIST mailing list*********** > > > To unsubscribe from cybercafe, send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > (NOT to the list itself .. cybercafe@....). In that e-mail type: > > > unsubscribe cybercafe <your e-mail address (optional)> > > > end > > > for details: <http://www.owt.com/users/jlewis/unsub_faq.html> > > > > > > > > **********Footer message for &LIST mailing list*********** > > To unsubscribe from cybercafe, send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > (NOT to the list itself .. cybercafe@....). In that e-mail type: > > unsubscribe cybercafe <your e-mail address (optional)> > > end > > for details: <http://www.owt.com/users/jlewis/unsub_faq.html> > > > > **********Footer message for &LIST mailing list*********** > To unsubscribe from cybercafe, send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > (NOT to the list itself .. cybercafe@....). In that e-mail type: > unsubscribe cybercafe <your e-mail address (optional)> > end > for details: <http://www.owt.com/users/jlewis/unsub_faq.html> -- Duane Fahey Visual Automation, Inc. http://www.VisualAutomation.com 517.622.1850 517.622.1761 fax -- Secure Desktop 5 for Windows 95/98/NT4/2000 Internet Explorer Office 2000 -- http://www.ePortal.com Bookmark This! -- http://www.iLock.com iLock 2 for Windows 95/98 Internet Explorer
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