If you thought the dramatic switch from T-Mobile to AT&T as the Wi-Fi provider for Starbucks Coffee was over since the shops now officially offer customers two hours of free Internet access per day (as long as they have a Starbucks Card Rewards membership), well go buy another latte.

T-Mobile has filed for damages with the New York Supreme Court over the move, which it claims it was not informed of beforehand. Why go to court at all if AT&T is running things? It's not just because it got dumped. T-Mobile is still operating 95 percent of the Starbucks' Wi-Fi networks. The transition to AT&T control is far from complete. T-Mobile spent a lot of money years ago putting full T1 lines - not just cable or DSL, full, costly T1s - to all those coffee shops. That's a big reason why T-Mobile never gave away access. They don't want to start now. T-Mobile does allow roaming for paying AT&T customers, of course.

The lawsuit shouldn't impact freebie users of Starbucks Wi-Fi. Chances are they'll settle out of court, or just pony up some cash to T-Mobile in the meantime, until AT&T takes over completely.

[via Wi-Fi Networking News]