Before you yell at the guy in front of you at Starbucks who won't stop texting, take a minute to make sure he's not actually paying.
Wired writes that the coffee chain has rolled out an application that allows iPhone, iPod Touch and Blackberry owners to purchase an order with their phones or touch-screen devices. The payment system is now in place nationwide at freestanding Starbucks and more than 1,000 locations inside of Target stores.
Your phone is essentially a mobile Starbucks card. You punch your card number into a free software application. You then show your phone to the barista ringing you up, who scans the bar code on the screen, and the balance is automatically deducted from your card. The application allows you to add funds, find local Starbucks and track your rewards from the My Rewards program.
While I appreciate the idea that this is about convenience, I'm not sure I'm ready for this kind of responsibility, especially first thing in the morning. I have enough trouble keeping track of my phone and keeping it charged. Now I have to worry about the guy who steals my phone in order to buy the latest Bob Dylan exclusive and a frappuccino.
[Image via Flickr: Brandi Jordan]
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