Starbucks Gets Mobile Payment System 149
Ron writes "Starbucks has started accepting mobile payments. Customers can now use the Starbucks Card Mobile app on their iPhone, iPod touch, or BlackBerry at nearly 6,800 company-operated Starbucks stores in the US plus more than 1,000 outlets inside Target stores. To pay with their phone, app users simply select 'touch to pay' and hold up the barcode on the screen to the 2D scanner at the register. The app also lets users manage Starbucks accounts and find nearby stores. To start using your device as tender, you can download the app now for iOS and BlackBerry. An Android application is also said to be in the works, but the company has not yet given a release date, and there's no word yet on plans for a Windows Phone version."
Is it me (Score:4, Interesting)
Or is this an incredibly stupid idea? Nothing says "hack/steal my phone" like turning into a cash machine.
Automatic ordering? (Score:4, Interesting)
This would be more interesting if it let you pre-enter your drink order in the app then when they scan it, it automatically prints out the drink label.
That way, those people that order incredibly complicated drinks don't need to yell over the sound of the barista frothing milk 2 feet from the register.
I even have a hard enough time getting them to hear my simple drink order "Tall coffee with room for cream. Ok Grande coffee, do you want room? No, I asked for a 'tall'! Sorry it's loud here, ok tall latte"
I order the same thing every time I go in, there could be a single button click on the app that says "repeat last order".