Over 35 BB Coffee and Muffin stores around Ireland are to be equipped with Wi-Fi following a deal between the company and Wi-Fi broadband provider BitBuzz.
The deal is understood to be driven not only by the desire for individuals to go online via netbooks and laptops but in particular by the rise of internet access capabilities on handheld devices like the iPhone, the BlackBerry and the Samsung Jet.
“This is an important deal for us as we need to meet the growing demand from customers, especially customers with handheld Wi-Fi devices, such as the Apple iPhone, who require Wi-Fi access in shopping centres,” confirms BitBuzz managing director Shane Deasy.
BB’s Coffee & Muffins have 35 stores in Ireland, and since opening their first store in Ireland in March 1999, BB’s have now become the largest shopping centre café operator in the country.
Bitbuzz will also be providing them with a managed IP network for their back office systems.
“As one of Ireland’s leading shopping mall and retail park café franchisers, BB’s Coffee & Muffins understands the growing need for our customer, managers and franchise owners to stay connected,” David O’Connor, general manager, BB’s Coffee & Muffins explains.
“With this in mind we wanted to provide a service that we could count on.
“Having met with Bitbuzz, they were able to demonstrate to us the vast improvements being made in Wi-Fi technology and mobile working. We’re excited about future opportunities and look forward to rolling this out through our network of stores,” O’Connor says.
By John Kennedy
Caption: David O’Connor, managing director, BB’s Coffee & Muffins, and Shane Deasy, managing director, Bitbuzz, launching their deal to provide Wi-Fi access to BB’s Stores nationwide, meeting the demand from those with handheld Wi-Fi devices for greater internet access in public areas
