Starbucks brews up iPhone app, mobile payment trial

Coffee giant Starbucks announced the introduction of myStarbucks, a new iPhone application enabling consumers to search stores, browse menus and nutrition information and check out its whole bean coffee selection. In addition, customers can create their own Starbucks beverage and share the recipe with friends via SMS. In addition, the company unveiled the Starbucks Card Mobile App, enabling iPhone and iPod touch users to view their Starbucks Card balance and add funds via major credit card.

Starbucks is currently trialing a new mobile payment feature in more than a dozen West Coast locations--iPhone and iPod touch devices will display a barcode that customers can use as they would their Starbucks Card. Starbucks adds that consumers who pay for purchases using their Apple device will enjoy the same Starbucks Card Rewards benefits as shoppers using traditional registered cards, including free syrup and milk options, brewed coffee refills at no extra charge on the same visit and two consecutive hours of free AT&T Wi-Fi per day in stores.

For more on Starbucks' iPhone efforts:
- check out the Starbuck Apps webpage