Thursday, September 24, 2009

Starbucks Turns an iPhone Screen into a Gift Card

Starbucks is introducing two new applications for the iPhone that will make it easier for java junkies to get their fix—and make it possible to pay right from the phone, which has broad implications for mobile commerce.

The myStarbucks application has a slew of features that make it easier to remember your friend’s favorite drinks and to locate nearby Starbucks stores. More interesting is a test of a Starbucks card, which will allow people in select West Coast stores to pay for coffee using a bar code on a phone’s screen.

The myStarbucks app, which is usable anywhere, lets you store the recipe for your favorite coffee concoction and to share it with other people. You can send your request for a Grande Skinny Caramel Macchiato with two sugars to the office coffee slave and be assured that they get it right.

Don’t know what you want to drink? A flavor selector helps you choose a coffee based on flavors like earthy, balanced or nutty. You can also look up the nutritional information, like the calorie count of your drink (you’ll soon be switching to skim).

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