Starbucks Launches Its Square Payments Program Today

11.09.12WRITTEN BY DAN SEITZ

Hey, remember when Starbucks decided it was going to basically step to Apple, Google, and pretty much everybody else in the tech sector when it came to mobile payments? Yeah, that whole fight starts as of today. Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of it, and why so many are so angry.

So, if you want to buy a latte with your phone, and don’t want to use Starbucks’ payment app, you’ll need the Square Wallet app. It’s for iOS 5 and later and Android 2.2 and up. Unlike many mobile payment apps, you won’t need an NFC card or similar extra tech: The Square Wallet app just requires you to select the Starbucks and say your name. It won’t be in every Starbucks just yet. The program isbeing run in 7,000 stores and if successful, will expand.

What does Starbucks get out of this? Savings. They do billions in business, a lot of it in credit cards, and you’ve got to pay swipe fees with those. If nothing else, having Square absorb that hit is good for business.

So who’s angry about this? In a word, everybody. Google has been struggling to gain acceptance for Google Wallet and ultimately just gave up and turned it into a card that you might actually use. Apple and Facebook are similarly trying to edge slowly into this space. So, having a major retailer that chose a mobile payments platform that isn’t theirs probably grinds a few gears.

Whether this remains a curiosity or explodes is a bit up in the air. To be honest, I’m a bit skeptical that mobile payments will grow at the rate analysts think. But if nothing else, Square gets its app out there: Everybody will try this at least once.

Read more: http://www.uproxx.com/technology/2012/11/starbucks-launches-its-square-program-today/#ixzz2CcheQfUt

Starbucks Will Let You Pay With Square

  August 8, 2012 by Emily Price 13

Square has announced a partnership with Starbucks that will have the company processing all of the coffee giant’s credit and debit transactions, starting this fall.
The deal will not only bring Square into Starbucks, it will also bring Starbucks into Square. Starbucks is investing $25 million in Square as part of its latest round of funding, and Howard Schultz, Starbucks’s chief executive, will also join Square’s board.
“It’s amazing to think that Starbucks began as a single coffee shop in Seattle. The concept of taking a good idea and helping it grow is not foreign to them, and Starbucks doesn’t just view Square as the simplest way to accept payments.They see an opportunity to extend and accelerate a model they grew up with: the idea that business is local and that community plays a vital role in job creation and economic vitality, “ Square CEO Jack Dorsey said in an announcement letter on Square’s website.
“When Starbucks builds the Square Directory into their apps and in-store Digital Network, it gives Square new visibility, driving more customers to opt-in to Square. And with nearly 7,000 Starbucks stores soon accepting Square, these new payers will be able to find your business (including coffeehouses) and pay with their name, building community and creating value.”
Square’s card readers are currently used by a large number of merchants, ranging from coffee shops to food trucks and local merchants.
SEE ALSO: Square Register, Pay With Square Aim To Change How You Pay [HANDS-ON]The company is now processing an astounding $5 billion in payments annually, increasing its payment volume by 25% since March of this year, with more than 1 million using the service to accept payments. Funds from sales made before 5 p.m. are available in the merchant’s bank account the very next day -– much quicker than the several days or weeks of processing required by other payment processors.
In March, the company took mobile payments a step further and launched Square Register. The full point-of-sale system for businesses allows merchants to accept payments, track store inventory and share information, such as their menu, with customers via Square’s mobile app.
Customers can open a tab on their mobile phone wherever they want, or have a tab auto-open when they arrive at businesses they frequent. Merchants can then tap that person’s photo and name on the checkout screen to charge a purchase.
Ultimately, Starbucks customers will be able to take advantage of that feature and charge purchases by simply saying their name when they reach the register, rather than forking over a credit card.
“As the largest retail mobile payment platform in the U.S., we’re excited and proud to accept payments with Square,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and CEO in a statement. “The evolving social and digital media platforms and highly innovative and relevant payment capabilities are causing seismic changes in consumer behavior and creating equally disruptive opportunities for business. Both Starbucks and Square take a similar approach when building products and running our businesses, and together we can bring the best possible payment experience to Starbucks customers.”
Starbucks currently offers in-store mobile payments via the company’s mobile app and a virtual version of its Starbucks Card. Using the app; however, requires you to hold a balance on a Starbucks Card rather than simily debit your purchases from a credit or debit card.

Starbucks drives summer drink sales via targeted mobile campaign

By Rimma Kats

August 3, 2011

Starbucks mobile ad

Starbucks is proving once again that it is a force to reckon with in the mobile space via a new mobile campaign that lets consumers find their ideal summer refreshment. 
The retailer is running targeted mobile banner ads within Pandora’s iPhone application. The interactive ads help consumers refresh during the summer season.
“Starbucks is offering the product first before they show conversion for a store locator,” said Tom Limongello, vice president of marketing at Crisp Media, New York.

“You want to have the lightest interactions first,” he said.
Mr. Limongello is not affiliated with Starbucks. He commented based on his expertise on the subject.
Starbucks did not respond to press inquiries.
Summer refreshmentThe Starbucks ad reads, “Handcrafted refreshment is waiting.”
When consumers tap on the banner ad, they are redirected to a mobile landing page where they are encourage to swipe the icy screen to reveal their ideal refreshment.
After users swipe the screen, they can choose a drink – an iced coffee with milk or the Tazo shaken iced passion tea lemonade.

Consumers can swipe their screen to reveal the refreshment
Additionally, consumers can click on either drink to learn more about it and see what ingredients are used to make it.

Consumers can choose between an iced coffee or iced tea
When consumers are finished reading about the ingredients and other information about their desired drink, they can find the nearest Starbucks location to try it out.

Consumers can also find the closest location to get their drink
“The best part of what they’ve done is how they organized the experience,” Mr. Limongello said.
“They’re featuring the product and giving people a choice – you want to start with the easiest decisions,” he said. “It starts light and gets heavier.”
Final TakeRimma Kats, staff reporter on Mobile Marketer, New York

Staff Reporter Rimma Kats covers media, television, research and social networks. Reach her at rimma@mobilemarketer.com.