Here’s another reason to get your caffeine fix at Starbucks: It might come with a free iPhone app. The Seattle coffee retailer has expanded a partnership with Apple to offer Starbucks customers a premium iPhone app for free. CNet News, which discovered the new promotion, notes that cards are displayed at Starbucks stores with a special code that customers can use to get the free app.
The promotion is starting out with the popular music ID app Shazam Encore, which typically sells for $5.99. Getting that app for free is not a bad deal considering that it costs more than most coffee drinks at Starbucks.
Starbucks and Apple have offered a similar promotion on music tracks, displaying “Pick of the Week” cards in stores since 2008. But offering premium apps for free is a new move, and a particularly savvy one for both companies. Not only could it drive more customers into Starbucks, but Apple could use this as a way to strengthen its developer community and brand.
The promotion also may be a counterweight to Amazon.com, which has been offering a free Android app of the day.
We’ve yet to see the free iPhone app promotion in a Seattle area Starbucks, so if you do let us know in the comments. I’m planning to hit a Starbucks later today to see if I can try it out.
Fans of tech history may recall that Steve Jobs is a pretty big Starbucks fan, as evidenced by this prank call he made to the coffee retailer in 2007.