350 Bay Area
Starbucks stores were some the first in the country to let customers
instantly buy and download songs being played in the store. The service debuted last month in Seattle and New York.
People who own an Apple iPhone, an iPod Touch, or who have
iTunes on their PC or Mac laptop see what song is playing. They
can even see a list of the last 10 songs played and buy them for 99
cents each, using the store’s Wi-Fi network for free only to purchase the songs, if they want other Web capabilities they will have to pay up.
In February and March the Wi-Fi buy service will be available in Los Angeles and Chicago, respectively.
First Announcement in September
SAN FRANCISCO—September 5, 2007—Apple® and Starbucks today announced an
exclusive partnership that lets customers wirelessly browse, search
for, preview, buy and download music from the iTunes® Wi-Fi Music Store
at Starbucks onto their iPod® touch, iPhone™ or PC or Mac® running
iTunes while at a participating location. When a customer enters a
participating location, their device will automatically recognize the
iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store using a high-speed Wi-Fi wireless network with
no connection fee or hotspot login. Customers will be able to browse,
search and freely preview millions of songs, including a new “Now
Playing” service which displays the name of the song playing in the
Starbucks store at that moment, then easily buy and download songs or
albums directly to their device. Prices and selection on the iTunes
Wi-Fi Music Store are the same as on the regular iTunes Store. The
service will make its debut at more than 600 Starbucks company-operated
locations in New York and Seattle on October 2.
“Getting free access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store and the ‘Now
Playing’ service at Starbucks is a great way for customers to discover
new music,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Imagine walking into a
participating Starbucks, hearing a great song, and being able to
instantly download it onto your iPod or iPhone. We think this is very
cool.”
“With this partnership, we’re bringing Apple’s leadership in digital
music together with not only our retail footprint, but the unique
Starbucks experience, to offer customers a world-class digital music
experience,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company.
“Introducing this new service is a natural extension of our music
strategy which only enhances the retail coffee experience for customers
by helping them discover and acquire new music instantly.”
After its debut in New York and Seattle on October 2, the iTunes
Wi-Fi Music Store will continue its national rollout to 350 Starbucks
stores in the San Francisco Bay area on November 7; 500 stores in Los
Angeles in early February 2008; 300 stores in Chicago in March 2008;
and additional markets throughout the US later in 2008.
The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks will run on the robust
T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi network which is available at participating
Starbucks locations across the US.
With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as
Cover Flow™, integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing,
seamless integration with iPod and iPhone, and the ability to turn
previously purchased songs into completed albums at reduced prices, the
iTunes Store is the best way for PC and Mac users to legally discover,
purchase and download music and video online.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the
Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the
Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation
with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and
professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media
revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes
online store, and has entered the mobile phone market this year with
its revolutionary iPhone.
Starbucks Coffee Company provides an uplifting experience that enriches
people’s lives one moment, one human being, one extraordinary cup of
coffee at a time. To share in the experience, visit www.starbucks.com.