Next time you order your Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino at Starbucks – or any other exorbitantly priced coffee that tickles your fancy – don’t forget to wirelessly charge your smartphone, assuming your device has such charging capabilities, and assuming you’re making your coffee beverage purchases in the United States.
Starbucks and Duracell Powermat on Thursday announced that they have started a national rollout of Powermat wireless charging stations in Starbucks locations, beginning with stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. The companies will then cover more Starbucks locations and Teavana Fine Teas and Tea Bars in the U.S., with similar pilots planned for Europe and Asia within the year.
“From WiFi and the in-store Starbucks Digital Network to mobile payment and digital music downloads, we have always tried to anticipate our customers’ needs early in the adoption curve and provide a world-class solution, Starbucks chief digital officer Adam Brotman said. “We are thrilled to offer our customers that next level of convenience with Powermat wireless charging. Rather than hunting around for an available power outlet, they can seamlessly charge their device while enjoying their favorite food or beverage offering right in our stores.”
The Duracell Powermat spots are based on the PMA wireless charging standard, and will work with various devices that support such battery charging tech.
Images showing how the Duracell Powermat stations look like inside a Starbucks coffee shop follow below.
