Starbucks today updated its iOS app to add support for Apple Pay, making it possible for iOS users to reload their Starbucks cards using Apple's payments service.
Starbucks was listed as an Apple Pay app partner when Apple Pay launched in October, but it has taken several months for the feature to be available to Apple Pay users. Apple Pay can only be used in the Starbucks app for reloading Starbucks cards because Starbucks is not an Apple Pay retail partner.
The coffee chain uses its own bar code-based system for in-store purchases with the Starbucks app and Starbucks locations are not outfitted with the NFC technology that would enable Apple Pay. There has been no word on whether Starbucks plans to implement NFC and support for in-store use of Apple Pay.
Along with Apple Pay support, today's Starbucks app update also introduces an enhanced menu with calorie counts and a better experience for Mobile Order & Pay in Portland.
Introducing Apple Pay and a Few Helpful Changes
Now you can use Apple Pay to quickly reload your Starbucks Card. Touch ID makes it faster than ever.
By popular demand, the menu is enhanced. When you browse our menu you'll now find additional calorie information on menu items. We've also enhanced the experience for Mobile Order & Pay in Portland.
This update addresses various bugs and stability issues.
The Starbucks iOS app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
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It's 50 in the UK. You need to go pretty much once a week to maintain gold status.
Or seven times a day for one intense and incredibly jittery week, during which you can talk at 900 words per minute and see through walls.
Seriously though, once you're gold, they have a lot of little promotions along the lines of "try X and get 3 bonus stars", or "earn Y stars this week and we'll give you Z bonus stars". If you take them up on a few promos you don't need to "earn" anywhere near the whole 50 (30 in the US) stars.
And with an iPhone 6 running iOS 8.1.3, Apple Pay as the only form of payment registered, and a decent balance already on the card... yeah, it crashes every time, at what seems like the point where iOS would be handing control back to the app.
Ahh Apple Pay, I remember this fabled feature from when I bought my iPhone 6... So can I use it in the UK yet? Can I even get iTunes Radio yet? I can't help feeling I'm paying for features im not receiving...
Spoke with a customer service representative this afternoon who stated that the crashing issue has been identified and their technical team is working on a fix.
