Apple inks WiFi deal with Starbucks
updated 03:00 pm EDT, Wed September 5, 2007
Apple, Starbucks buddy up
Apple today announced a new partnership with coffee drink company Starbucks to allow users of the iPhone and newly introduced iPod touch to access the iTunes Store and purchase the currently-playing Starbucks musical track with the touch of a button. Starbucks founder and chairman Howard Schultz took the stage at Apple's special event in San Francisco, informing onlookers that the coffee shop chain opens seven stores every day. Starbucks serves 50 million customers per week in more than 14,000 stores, according to Schultz, and sees 18 visits per month per customer. The coffee giant is also planning to roll out more stores in the near future for a total of 5,800 WiFi-enabled stores nationwide.
Starbucks will open 600 new stores starting October 2nd in New York and Seattle, followed by another 350 stores in San Francisco in November. Los Angeles and Chicago are scheduled for new store openings in 2008, and the company hopes to complete all store openings by 2009.
Technically cool
09/05, 03:27pm reply
I mean, it's a cool application from a technical perspective. I don't go to Starbucks, so I see any personal value in it, but this could be a cool testbed for up and coming tech. If you could do something like this at any major retail outlet that plays background music, that would be slick.
Zaren
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Sounds neat and all...
09/05, 03:38pm reply
but do you have to get a t-mobile hotspot account to access wi-fi in order to download in-store? If so, that is a major kick in the pants.
ceedee20
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Joined: Dec 2005
re: sounds neat and all..
09/05, 04:01pm reply
The guided tour says it recognizes that you are on Starbuck wi-fi and connects free of charge. Clicking on the icon takes you to the iTunes music store.
boris_cleto
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Joined: Sep 2002
Misleading article
09/05, 04:05pm reply
As usually, the MacNN editor takes away more clarity than he adds. THe numbers quoted in the presentation weren't for new store rollouts, they were for stores being set-up to support the new iPhone/iPod Touch feature.
njfuzzy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2001
Starbucks
09/05, 04:14pm reply
Whatever...I had this idea with Satellite Radio. I thought it would have been great for Apple to team up with Sirius, make an iTunes radio station playing all songs from the iTunes store. When you hear something you like you click BUY.
One question, does the WiFi store work on any wireless network or just STARBUCKS/
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
Starbucks!
09/05, 07:50pm reply
don't like starbucks or the retarded Mr. Schultz!
bloggerblog
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Joined: Aug 2007