Starbucks are real stars in the app world. They are now accepting payments at outlets in the U.S. through their free iPhone app.
About eight months back, Starbucks had a pilot program that was expanded from Seattle and Silicon Valley to all of their caffeine dispensing outlets. With this app, you can pay for your coffee addiction just by using the app. Check out the video below to watch the magic happen.
The app is actually linked to your Starbucks account card which will display a unique barcode just for your account. You only need to point this barcode at the scanner and it will take out the funds. This is a pretty great idea because it means that it won’t be waving your payment details around via WiFi or Bluetooth. Because of that, I think it will mean more people will take it up for a try because often it is security issues or payment transactions where people get nervous.
If this all does work as seamless as it appears to, I’m sure that it will actually increase their customer base a fair bit. I know I would feel more likely to have loyalty to a company that has made it so easy to pay. Please roll this out to other countries!
Article Via TUAW
FLICKR
YOUTUBE
RSS
i used this just today at the Starbucks in my small hometown. so neat. i set it up a while back to use at Target. set up is a little involved, but not complicated. at the time i set it up, you did have to buy a physical Starbucks card to get started, though, which seemed a bit counter-intuitive to me. that may have changed by now. but after setup, it's so amazingly easy to use, and it makes you feel like you're from the future.
true, it doesn't really save a ton of time at this point, though it does save me from having to get out my wallet. this type of app signals the beginning of the end of having a wallet at all. mobile payment tech is certainly in its infancy, but that doesn't stop customers and even the employees from making transaction in a "fun" and "cool" way.
mmm... coffee.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeI think that does sound like it works pretty well as I always have my phone while waiting in a coffee queue and then have to put my phone down to get out the cash etc, so just being able to use the phone seems a great idea. I really hope more places use this kind of payment.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Likeyup. foursquare, pay for coffee, twitter.
this will tide me over until NFC takes over for mobile payment. i can't wait to ditch my wallet and keys from my pockets.
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
LikeThe average Starbuck's cash transaction, I've found, takes about 30 seconds if not less. Let's be generous and say this app would cut that time in half.
I haven't owned a dog for a few years, but isn't 15 seconds a little short for a walk?
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like