Dunkin’ Donuts App Joins Starbucks, Allows Exchange Of Mobile Payments For Coffee

A new Dunkin’ Donuts app has been added to the App Store, enabling customers to purchase all of the coffee-and-donuts wares sold by Starbucks’ major competitor without a wallet.

The Dunkin’ Donuts app joins Starbucks in the App Store and on Google Play as a way for customers to integrate their ever-present smartphones as a payment method.

The Dunkin’ Donuts app hit iPhones and Android devices Thursday, but, like the Starbucks app, it doesn’t directly pull from your credit cards to fund coffee and donut purchases. As is fairly standard, a bit of foresight is required in that you must load up a Dunkin’ Donuts card for the app before you can use it to claim your coffee and crullers.

But, like the Starbucks app too, the Dunkin’ Donuts app allows for gifting of coffee and credits to fellow Dunkin’ Donuts app-using friends, which is a nice perk. Dunkin’ Donuts US President and CEO Nigel Travis commented on the Dunkin’ Donuts app release, saying that the company hopes the new gadget-friendly service will be a value-add for Dunkin’ adherents with smartphones:

“Dunkin’ Donuts is committed to developing and delivering technology that supports our growth and distinguishes our brand for offering the very best guest experience… Today’s launch of the new Dunkin’ Mobile App is an exciting and important day for both Dunkin’ Donuts’ guests and our franchisees.”

While the release of the Dunkin’ Donuts app helps put DD on par with Starbucks for the time being, the parity won’t last long — just this month, we learned that Starbucks is pairing with Square to allow mobile payments for customers on their app.