When Starbucks launched their Starbucks Card Mobile system in early 2011 the system was met with a security flaw, a flaw that hasn’t slowed down the success of the company’s ipHone and BlackBerry apps. According to the company, more than 3 million people have used the payment app since it launched.
Starbucks Vice President Brady Brewer told USA Today:
“Starbucks now offers the nation’s largest mobile payment network.”
The system is easy to use, simply hold the barcode that displays on your Smartphone up to the registers scanner and the money is auto-debited from your bank/credit card or money can be loaded by the user at which time it operates much like a gift card.
At the company’s recent shareholders meeting company CEO Howard Schultz announced that the last financial quarter was not only the best in company history, but that 22% of all company transactions came from Starbucks Card Mobile applications.
Unfortunately it’s still like $5 for a cup of something I can make at home for $.50, but at least now I don’t have to go through the “hassle” of pulling out my wallet and lugging out that large heavy peace of plastic known as a credit card . Shrug.
Do you use Card Mobile? Let us know what you think about the service.
