As I mentioned in a previous post, Starbucks recently introduced not one, but two iPhoneapps. I previously wrote about the store locator and product information app, called Starbucks. Now, I’m taking a look at the second app, called Mobile Card.
Starbucks Mobile Card is an app for Starbucks card holders, and allows you to manage the funds on your card. The app lets you check your card’s balance, add additional funds, review your purchase history, and even pay for purchases without using a physical card (at select locations).
When you first launch the app, you’re given the choice to sign in with your Starbucks account, or continue without an account. If you’re a Starbucks card holder, it makes sense to create an account online and register your card with your account.
Registered cards are entitled to additional savings, such as no charge on syrups and other flavorings, which can save you anywhere from 30 to 90 cents per drink, a free drink on your birthday, as well as free wifi access using your laptop at any Starbucks location.
You sign in with your Starbucks username and password, and can choose whether to remember your username or not. The nice thing about this, is you could use the Starbucks Mobile Card app on a friend’s iPhone to check your balance or reload your card, without it saving your information.
Once you sign in to your Starbucks account, the app opens to a main screen with several options to manage your card, it shows the current balance, as well as an actual image of your card. This way, if you have several cards registered, you can tell at a quick glance which one you’re managing. For me, I have a single Starbucks Product(RED) card attached to my account.
After reviewing my recent transactions, and checking my balance last night, and realizing I only had $2.55 left on my account, knowing that’s not even enough to purchase one coffee in the morning, I decided to try out the reload function.
You can choose from several common preselected amounts to refill your card with, or specify a different amount. You must use a valid major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express). Here, I’ve chosen to add $50 using my Visa card, which I’ve added as a payment type.
Starbucks Mobile Card encrypts and transmits your credit card information securely using 256-bit SSL encryption, which is pretty secure. In my mind, this app would be no less secure than using my Mac on my home wifi (which is protected with WPA-2) and transmitting my credit card through a web browser. However, use it on a public wifi network with caution.
Now, perhaps you’re concerned about having your credit card information saved in an app that anyone could access if they got ahold of your iPhone. Don’t worry, Starbucks thought of that. They’ve added a passcode protection that you can enable and use a 4-digit code (just like the standard iPhone unlock screen).
Also, Starbucks assures me that the data they store on the iPhone’s memory is encrypted and protected, and unreadable by any other app. I’m pretty sure Starbucks has the resources to hire developers that really know what they’re doing, so I feel just fine taking their word for it.
After I completed my purchase, I got a confirmation screen with a pleasant surprise – I received a $5 bonus added to my account! When I inquired about this, Starbucks told me that for a limited time, all customers who register their Starbucks card and reload using their iPhone and a Visa credit card will receive a $5 bonus the first time. Hey, that’s the amount of a latte just for using their app, you can’t argue with that!
Now my card shows a new balance, which is the previous amount, plus the $50 I just added, plus the $5 bonus I received for using the app. Sweet! Now I am ready for my morning coffee!
Mobile Card also offers what I can only imagine is a really neat way to pay, if you happen to live in an area that is part of this pilot program, which I do not. For now, only the areas of San Jose, California and Seattle, Washington are participating at this time, but Starbucks says that more areas will be added as time goes on.
At these select stores, you will be able to complete a purchase without even needing to use a physical card. This way you won’t have to carry yet another plastic card in your already-stuffed wallet or bottomless purse. When you’re ready to pay, just inform the cashier you’re paying with your iPhone, and use the Pay Now function in the app. The app displays a special barcode image that the cashier can scan, which then deducts the amount from your account.
If you are a Starbucks card holder, download this app now, register your card, and get your $5 bonus! And then, as long as you continue to use your card, you’ll be saving a little off each drink. How could you ignore that? Oh, and anyone can get a Starbucks card, as it’s not a credit card (they do have those but I don’t use one, I’d get myself in trouble!) it’s just basically like a preloaded gift card.
Isn’t it a little interesting that two apps from Starbucks gets my attention like crazy and a huge write-up? 
(http://justanotheriphoneblog.com/wordpress/iphone-software/starbucks-mobile-card-app-manage-your-starbucks-card-from-your-iphone)
