Bitcoin Starbucks Loyalty App Users To Receive Free New York Times Headlines, Bitcoin Payments Next?
Jp Buntinx · @http://twitter.com/jdebunt | Jul 22, 2015 | 08:50
The Rundown
The world of technology is filled with major innovations and huge surprises. Starbucks, one of the world’s leading brands as far as coffee-on-the-go is concerned, has unveiled a new feature for their mobile application. Not only will customers be able to use the app for purchases in-store, but they will also receive a “daily briefing” by The New York Times.
Also read: Fold Brings Bitcoin to Hong Kong Starbucks Branches
Starbucks And The Digital News Experience
Starbucks customers who frequently use the “My Starbucks Rewards” loyalty program will gain access to The New York Times’ top news of the day, as well as a selection of other articles. Due to an expanding relationship between Starbucks and The New York Times, loyalty program users will not only be able to earn loyalty points with the mobile app, but also read their daily news.
In exchange, subscribers to The New York Times – in both digital and physical format – will be able to earn “Stars”, which is Starbucks’ own loyalty reward currency. With mobile device usage on the rise month after month, it only makes sense to look for additional features to customers. This solution is viable and valuable to both Starbucks and The New York Times.
Starbucks CEO and Chairman Howard Schultz explained it as follows:
“Our relationship with The New York Times is the perfect example of bringing this vision to life. We have proudly sold millions of copies of the paper in Starbucks stores for more than a decade, and are excited to bring this experience to the next level by enabling Starbucks loyal customers to take the best of The New York Times with them wherever they go, whenever they want it.”
Starbucks loyalty app users will be able to get these daily headlines on their mobile device starting as of the first half of 2016, with no specific date announced at the time of publication. Eventually, other articles from different news sources will be making their way to My Starbucks Rewards loyalty members.
Considering how most US-based Starbucks stores already allow customers to read up to 15 articles per day on The New York Times’ website free of charge, integration into the mobile app was just a matter of time. Plus, existing The New York Times subscribers will be able to earn and redeem Stars in exchange for food and beverages at their local Starbucks store.
Bitcoin Payments To Follow Next?
It is a positive trend to see two major companies collaborate in this digital age. In the case of both Starbucks and The New York Times, the next step would be to facilitate [mobile] payments for goods and services. Bitcoin could play an important role in that regard, as it is a borderless payment which would also allow tourists to pay with their mobile device at Starbucks locations throughout the world.
What are your thoughts on this partnership, and would you like to see Bitcoin payments integrated in the Starbucks mobile app? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: Starbucks News
Images courtesy of Starbucks and Berklee
