On Janurary 19 Starbucks announced that customers would be able to use the mobile app on their phone to pay for their orders. The new app will not only let people add their Starbucks Cards, but they will also be able to track rewards and reload cards as needed via PayPal or credit card. The app will come with a "touch to pay button" and they will be able to hold up the barcode on their screen and scan it at the register.
Starbucks is becoming pioneers in New Media affecting companies. They have realized that most consumers always have their smart phone on their person, and will often times grab the phone before they think about grabbing a purse or wallet. I predict that if Starbucks can prove their new app to be a success there will be tons of companies adapting their own form of mobile payments. Pretty soon future generations will only know of mobile payments.
http://www.envoydata.com/content/starbucks-mobile-phone-payments-going-live-all-us-stores
