As we are more dependent on our phones every day, and more companies and software developers are discovering and reinventing new gadgets or as they are call now “apps” for smart phones, they will offers us consumers the opportunity, almost impossible to pass, to try for free this apps.
Starbucks have been trying such app to pay for coffee at some of their stores since 2009, at the same time they offered a Starbucks credit card which had great success in 2010 with a grow of 21 percent, now with the new app ready to be launched at all 6800 locations nation wide, customers will enjoy their favorites at Starbucks simply by carrying their never leave home without “Smartphone”.
On top of the convenience and expedite of service, the card now register in our phones as a barcode, will give us the same rewards as card users, including free syrup and milk options, free brew refills at same visit, two hours of continuous AT&T Wi-Fi free, and automatic account refill from a credit card or Pay Pal account.
This trend is going to be available for other developers like android, which will replace credit cards and forms of payment, this technology works by simply waving your phone up to 4 inches from the reading device, it will also be use for communicating our phones to any computer, turning it into our personal, with an encrypted code, giving us access to the same information from our own personal computer, no more need for carrying the lightest or smallest net book.
It all sounds great on writing, however it will definitely need some polishing for the practice, there is an app in use currently that copies the barcode for club membership on the Iphone, like the one for the gym or groceries club, giving us the freedom of not having our wallets or purses full of plastic cards, in theory sounds great, in practice has not worked so good, people seem to have problems at time of scanning the barcode, sometimes is due to a protective plastic skin or case on the phone, so is been the case already for some users of the Starbucks barcode, lets hope the scan readers are developed further in technology also.
I think is a good starting point to be able to do a purchase with just our phone, for the amount a coffee cost and not have to risk yet some one empting our account just because they found our phone, but it will be nice to be able to say “coffee any one?? I’ll bring my phone”
This is a really good starting point for the use of mobile devices to pay for products. The fact that a cup of coffee costs no more than $4 or $5 minimizes the risks associated with products that are more expensive. Once this technology is perfected, you may be able to purchase something like a TV or a computer with your mobile device. But for now, "testing" this technology on low cost products is the way to go. If your phone is lost or stolen you won't have to worry about someone going out buying a big ticket item or even worse, emptying your bank account.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. It's without a question an amazing starting point. It is extremely convenient, but as you said some improvements are required for practice execution. Security and cost issue must be clearly think through.In the other hand, I am pretty sure, we will see more companies adopting this payment system. On the mean while, what about a coffee tomorrow? make sure you bring your phone. LOL
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