Starbucks appear to be on the cusp of changing how consumers shop on the high street.
They have just launched a new IPhone application, currently only Stateside, that will turn users IPhones into their Starbucks Card.
Along with allowing users to view their outstanding balance, top it up and receive free refills when in a 
coffee shop the application will soon allow customers to pay for their skinny caramel caffe latte using an innovative mobile payment feature. Currently only available in a select number of US stores Starbucks are enabling customers to pay using a barcode produced by the Starbucks Card Mobile app, the barcode can be used in the same way as the Starbucks Card.
If this payment method goes live world wide it has the potential to change how we shop offline. Without a doubt it will influence the future of loyalty cards but in terms of mobile payments in store it may work better with some retailers than others. I foresee it being a big hit with habitual purchases- the purchases we make every day and always for some reason end up scrambling around in our purse/pocket to scrounge together the exact change to pay for it.
The ability to prepay on your mobile will make these small and regular purchases much easier. Much like the Oyster card in London mobile barcode payments could be very successful for commuting, making the customers life a lot easier! Similarily whats stopping nightclub and bars from introducing a similar set up; already several nightclubs and bars across the UK are introducing microchip payments, where a microchip connected to an account is inserted into a patrons arm, allowing them to socialise without a wallet. A mobile payment scheme offers all the same benefits without the pain factor.
So Starbucks might just be on to a winner with their new mobile payment application! We will have to wait until the scheme is launched across the entire company before we get to experience it for ourselves, but even at this early stage it is clear that Starbucks is on to a revolutionary way of enhancing the customer experience- one which has the potential to change how we shop forever.
