Items tagged with Starbucks
Can you imagine what would happen if the world suddenly ran dry of coffee? It would be chaos as sleepy-eyed commuters made their way to the workplace and tried to grind out the work day instead of grinding coffee beans. That could have been the case today for Starbucks patrons following a mysterious and reportedly widespread register outage, except that baristas decided to hand out free cups of java at affected locations. It is not clear what is causing the outage or how many stores are affected. According to a local NBC news affiliate, baristas at some locations told customers that Starbucks may have been a victim of a cyber attack. That has not been confirmed by Starbucks, which as of this...
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Starbucks has always been at the forefront of high-tech mobile integration with its ordering system and other aspects of its retail stores. The coffee chain was quick to adopt wireless payments, and has even opened its store up to newfangled mobile crazes like Pokémon Go. Now, the company is opening up its app to allow ordering your favorite drinks or food items via voice or messaging. Starbucks has enabled the functionality in an iOS beta of its mobile app, allowing you to simply speak your order and even make super-fancy customizations thanks to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The built-in AI will process your payment information and give you an ETA of when your order will be available...
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Does anyone remember Pokemon Go, the wildly popular mobile app that took the world by storm and turned every man, woman, and child into inattentive pedestrians? Well, there are still people who play the game. What's more, Niantic continues to actively update the app as well as forge new partnerships, like the one it just did with Starbucks. That's right, coffee joint that always manages to find its way into headlines one way or another is now an official partner of Pokemon Go. As such, it is planning to transform 7,800 company-operated Starbucks stores in the United States into Pokestops and Poke Gyms. This will go into effect starting at 11:00 AM Pacific (2:00 PM Eastern) today, December 8....
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Don't let your dying mobile device keep you from stopping into Starbucks and ordering that hazelnut macchiato you've been craving. Starbucks and Duracell Powermat have partnered up to roll out wireless phone chargers in Starbucks and Teavana locations across the U.S., so you can give your smartphone a jolt of juice while guzzling your daily dose of caffeine. According to USA Today, the roll out will be begin in locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. From there, Starbucks and Duracell Powermat will push to install more than 100,000 built-in table charges in each of the approximately 7,500 Starbucks owned stores in the U.S. "This move by Starbucks cuts the final cord of our lives -- the...
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It's no secret that caffeine can be addictive... we've known it for years. But have you ever wondered why your body may feel an urge to make another pot of joe or grab a soda? Believe it or not, the science behind it is rather simple, and definitely interesting. An addiction to something implies that you "need" to intake it often, and while it is about as simple a drug as they come, caffeine is in fact a drug. Many who consume lots of caffeine usually experience withdrawals after going without it for a while, much the same as someone who's trying to kick the smoking habit will, though it goes without saying that kicking caffeine is by far the easier of the two. Because caffeine is both water...
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Like an old cup of coffee, Starbucks is getting rid of AT&T as its complimentary Wi-Fi service provider and replacing it with something new and fresh. Specifically, Google will provide the next generation of wireless service to Starbucks customers, but it's not just a change in provider, it's an upgrade in speed as well. According to Starbucks, Google's Wi-Fi service will provide its customers with up to 10 times faster network and Wi-Fi speeds than they're currently getting with AT&T. In addition, Google and Starbucks will work together to co-develop the next generation Starbucks Digital Network. "Every day, our customers rely on the free Wi-Fi at Starbucks to study, work, connect with...
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Wireless charging hasn't exactly taken the world by storm, by almost any measure you look at. That said, there's still hope for the technology, but it will likely require less expensive components, more powerful capabilities (wirelessly powering a TV or laptop, for example), and greater corporate support. The tech is getting precisely that with a new agreement between Duracell and Starbucks. The two have ironed out a deal that will see Powermat charging pads placed at a number of highly visited Starbucks locations in the Silicon Valley area -- an area that's teeming with consumers who actually would be likely to give wireless charging a go. This particular trial is following what's said to be...
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As far as rewards programs go, Starbucks has one of the least attractive on offer. Frequent hotel dwellers and airline goers have been pretty upset lately by point devaluations that are ruffling through the industry, but Starbucks gives loyal drinkers next to nothing for stopping in on a daily basis. Clearly, that's not hurting sales. The coffee giant still seems to be pulling customers in left and right, and while you'd think it would have to offer something fairly amazing to get people to pay using their phone, that evidently is not the case. Mobile payments on the whole have struggled in the United States. Google Wallet has been all but a dud, and while Square is doing well, that still involves...
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As if you needed another reason to camp out at Starbucks and write your novel or do homework dink around on Facebook, the coffee chain is rolling out a trial of Duracell Powermat wireless charging stations in 17 Boston-area stores. "We're building the Powermat technology into some of the tabletops, just to get a sense for how our customers will react, compared to having to plug their mobile devices into the wall”, Starbucks chief digital officer Adam Brotman told Boston.com. If you don’t have a device or accessory that enables wireless charging, Starbucks will have a few to loan out, and may even do some in-store giveaways. The trial will run through the holidays, and if Starbucks...
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Starting in early November, coffee drinkers will be able to use the Square Wallet app on their iPhone or Android smartphone at Starbucks. This is the first national chain for Square’s new app, and it’s a big win for the company as it expands its mobile payment business. Still, with many Starbucks customers already using Starbucks’ own app to pay for their coffees, you have to wonder how many will opt for Square Wallet. Square is known for its Square Card Reader, which is a small device that plugs into your smartphone and lets you accept credit cards. Square provides a service that lets you process transactions, even if you’re not a traditional business....
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Have you visited a Starbucks in a major city recently? Not for the coffee, but for the wall outlet and the free Wi-Fi? Shame on you! But in honesty, Starbucks had to know 'campers' would come once they removed the cover from their Internet and offered it to all. But Internet's only as good as the power that comes with it. Once your laptop battery dies, all the free WLAN waves in the world aren't going to do you any good. It has apparently become quite the problem. A new report from Reuters points out that some highly trafficked Starbucks facilities in New York City are actually blocked electrical outlets in a bid to keep campers moving on and provide seats for actual customers who just need a...
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Mobile payments couldn't possibly be hotter right now. It's a trend that has caught on in my European and Asian nations, but the USA seems content with their old fashoned payment methods. But it feels like the future is finally catching up, and with major brands like Visa and Starbucks backing the initiative, it's going to be even tougher to ignore. The coffee giant has today announced that mobile payments are debuting nationally at their stores, with the Starbucks Mobile App offering customers with BlackBerry phones, the iPhone and the iPod touch a way to pay even more quickly at nearly 6800 U.S. company-operated Starbucks stores. That means that you can part ways with your cash even faster...
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Ah, so now it all makes sense. Starbucks surprised us all by announcing that the Wi-Fi in all of their corporate stores would be switching from a paid access model to a 100% free access model earlier this year, but there seemed to be no catch at all. It was a curious move. Some suggested that this could be in order to attract more consumers into shops, but it seems like Starbucks has something else in mind as well. The coffee company has now made public a vision for enhancing in-store browsing with a digital network of content, and we suspect that Starbucks may want to get into content sales or distribution all the while. Rodale, Nick Jr. Boost and DonorsChoose.org are three of the first content...
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Today's the day. You're probably checking your calendar to make sure that you didn't miss the July 4th holiday, but no, you didn't. And while it's definitely Canada Day as well, we're still talking about something even more different. Today's the day that Starbucks opens their Wi-Fi hotspots to the masses, and one of two things are going to happen. One potential outcome is this: they, along with AT&T, are fully ready to handle the immense traffic load that will surely come, not to mention the added influx of traffic (and squatting) from people coming over just to hop on the Internet. Or, the other is this: Starbucks becomes a place you avoid at all costs because it's overflowing with people...
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Regardless of what you think of the company as a whole, Starbucks is a worldwide icon. It's on most every street corner in most every major city, and it's always a solid place to go when you're looking for free Wi-Fi. Well, sorta. Starbucks has offered free Internet to Starbucks card holder as well as iPhone users and those with an AT&T Internet/U-verse account, but everyone else has had to login via other means or simply watch as everyone around them enjoys free wireless. Starting on July 1st, Starbucks will open up their Wi-Fi hotspots to every patron, regardless of whether they're affiliated with AT&T or not. The Wi-Fi will still be provided by AT&T, but all 6,700 U.S. corporate...
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Fandango's mobile iPhone app has been around since March, when it was first released, using it, an end user could find movies, find theaters, and buy tickets. Soon, the app may be able to produce scannable bar codes so users don't have to bother printing a ticket, either via a kiosk or a printer.Fandango made the statements at CES 2010. Darren Cross of Fandango said, at a session on iPhone apps, “We’re testing it now. It’s not too far away. We’ll have it pretty soon.”At the same time, Starbucks is trialing the same sort of thing in limited locations. Rather than using your Starbucks card, you use the mobile app and iPhone will display a barcode that you can use the same way you use your...
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McDonald's is about to up the ante in the wi-fi arena. While it has already been providing free wi-fi via AT&T's hotspot service to AT&T broadband customers as well as iPhone users, it will soon be providing free wi-fi, period. That new program will begin in January.Currently, for those not eligible for free wi-fi via an AT&T connection, McDonald’s charges $2.95 to access the Internet at its U.S. stores, in two-hour intervals. That program began with AT&T started about 5 years ago. However, the company has been encroaching on Starbucks' territory for a while now, with the recession an McDonald's McCafes emphasizing a "value-priced" sort of coffee lounge experience.With this...
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Yes, T-Mobile has sued Starbucks, and it's over wi-fi, but it's not over the fact that Starbucks is dropping T-Mobile in favor of AT&T. It's over their new "free wi-fi" plan that was just unveiled this week.In the lawsuit, filed late on Thursday in New York state court, T-Mobile alleges that AT&T and Starbucks Corp are not living up to an agreement the three companies reached over how Starbucks should transfer from its T-Mobile partnership to a new partnership with AT&T announced earlier this year.T-Mobile is seeking unspecified damages against Starbucks for breach of its contract and unfair competition.According to a transition agreement reached in February, T-Mobile was given the...
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Not only has Starbucks been busy outfitting all of its company-operated Starbucks locations with AT&T-supplied Wi-Fi, but that Wi-Fi will now be free to Starbucks card holders for up to two hours per day: "As a way to thank our loyal customers, Starbucks is offering a reward for registering and using your Starbucks Card - complimentary access to AT&T Wi-Fi for up to two hours per day in any U.S. Starbucks store that offers Wi-Fi.""To get your AT&T Wi-Fi account, you simply need a Starbucks Card that you have used in the last 30 days, and agree to receive up to four emails per year from AT&T. As long as you continue to use your card at least once a month (make a purchase or load...
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Wi-Fi availability at Starbucks is nothing new. But this last February, AT&T announced that it will be replacing T-Mobile as the Wi-Fi provider for all company-operated Starbucks locations. The transition is now underway with Starbucks stores in San Antonio, Texas already outfitted with Wi-Fi hotspots from AT&T. A press release from AT&T states: "... as of May 1, qualifying AT&T high speed Internet and Wi-Fi customers will have complimentary Wi-Fi access at more than 7,000 Starbucks locations nationwide. For millions of AT&T customers, that means more speed in more places--and for free--is on its way." For Frappuccino drinkers who don't live or work near the initial 7,000...
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As the launch of Apple and Starbucks' partnership nears (October 2nd) Starbucks has announced a promotion running from October 2nd to November 7th, in which customers at participating locations can download the "Song of the Day" (selected by Starbucks, naturally), free from iTunes.From Oct. 2 to Nov. 7, baristas in the company's more than 10,000 U.S. stores will hand out about 1.5 million "Song of the Day" cards each day. The cards can be redeemed at Apple Inc.'s online iTunes Store.Thirty-seven artists with featured songs include Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell — the first two to sign on with Starbucks' Hear Music label — along with Joss Stone, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Annie Lennox and Band...
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