The word 'espresso' conveys speed (even if it literally means "pressed out"). And this week, Starbucks rolled out a new point-of-sale technology that promises to help you get your espresso fix even faster.
As of this week, you can now use your iPhone, BlackBerry, or iPod Touch to pay for your triple non-fat no whip mocha frappuccino at 6,800 U.S. Starbucks stores. I tried it out today, using my iPhone to pay for a latte and a sandwich. The transaction took about 2 seconds.
Even so, there's a fair amount of set-up required. First, you need to buy a Starbucks card. You can pay for the card using cash or credit card. Next, you need to download the free Starbucks Card Mobile app. Then you need to link your card to the app. None of this is particularly difficult, of course; it's just a lot of steps.
Finally, you're ready. When you arrive at Starbucks, you'll need to open the mobile app on your phone. When it's time to pay, you tap the app's 'Touch to Pay' button and line up the barcode on your phone screen with the cash register scanner. The scanner reads your card's barcode, and then you press the 'Touch When Done' button. The app will display your updated card balance.
I suspect before long, some of these steps will be eliminated. And if not? Once you've finished the set-up process, the rest of it is super fast. And I like the idea of being able to carry around one less card in my wallet. Plus, you can protect the Starbucks app with a four-digit passcode, in case you lose your phone.
This is what I needed--a faster way to get espresso! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to clean out my office files, answer 10,000 e-mails, vacuum my car, cook dinner, and read a book on my Kindle. All at the same time.
I think Starbucks is on the right track. The number of tasks we can achieve using our phones are growing everyday, and mobile payments are certainly becoming very popular. By the way, thanks for explaining the steps of the setup. I'd say the setup is worth the time, considering how many people get Starbucks coffee everyday, and they would only need to go through the steps once. Besides, you're right, the steps will probably be simplified even further in the future.
Posted by: Mobile Payments | October 25, 2011 at 06:06 AM