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Pay your Starbucks bill with your phone

If you're low on cash, just pop open this app to buy your next extra-hot venti decaf skinny hazelnut latte.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
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Starbucks Card Mobile on iPhone
Ditch the Starbucks Card and buy your lattes with a scan with your iPhone or BlackBerry. Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Back in September, we tested out the Starbucks Card Mobile app, then a BlackBerry app that kicked off a pilot program for a digital prepaid Starbucks loyalty card on your mobile phone.

Today, Starbucks is expanding the program past its pilot retail stores, including kiosks at Target. Now the Starbucks Card Mobile app (for iPhone, iPod Touch, and BlackBerry) is a digital version of your prepaid card that you can actually use in 7,500 stores instead of cash or your plastic card to buy those frothy cappuccinos and extra-hot venti decaf skinny hazelnut lattes.

We tested out the app again just for fun, and found it worked smoothly. You have to already have a Starbucks card, which we do, and it helps to have your credit card or PayPal information already added to your account. Virtually topping up the digital card was a snap, and paying was as easy as pressing a button and waiting for the app to generate a bar code.

The store location feature is another bonus; it uses Google Maps to help you find the source of your next caffeine fix.

The Starbucks Card Mobile app is free, and available through BlackBerry App World and the iPhone App Store. We expect to see a version for Android next.

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