Coffee Phone

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/starbucks-stop-here-forget-cash-use-your-phone-to-pay-20110120-19x9r.html

Mother: “Anak, akin na lang ‘yang cellphone mo.”

Adult son: “Ayoko nga ‘Nay. Ibibigay mo lang kay Kuya eh.”

Mother: “Ay hindi. Gagamitin kong calculator kapag nagkukuwenta ako.”

I was at Starbucks one night when I overheard this conversation from other customers who were seated just beside my table. I hardly suppressed a laugh and feigned concentration on what I was reading. But despite myself, I took a quick glance at the guy’s phone, and saw that it was a Blackberry. A BLACKBERRY for Pete’s sake. Blackberry = calculator??!!

It still surprises me how some of our, forgive me for the term, elders remain oblivious about the fact that mobile phones nowadays are becoming more and more sophisticated. Recent models of mobile phones are no longer confined to the text-call function. We now have smartphones, Androids, iPhones and everything else that have seemingly made business and personal life more convenient and entertaining at the same time.

One of the more recent developments is the mobile payment system which Starbucks has already started employing. Although Japanese shoppers have been exploiting this technology for a few years now, the Starbucks-mobile phone partnership is still a very interesting idea to coffee-enthusiastic countries (like the Philippines, of course).

Starbucks, which is based in Seattle, Washington, stated that owners of a BlackBerry smartphone, an iPhone or an iPod Touch who have downloaded the free Starbucks Card mobile application can buy drinks by simply waving their mobile phone at a scanner at the cash register. The Starbucks Card can be reloaded with funds. Indeed, the resulting speed, ease and convenience can draw more and more customers. (Click here for a similar article) 

So in case the son gives his Blackberry to his mother, he might as well inform her that not only can she use it to compute her budget, she can also use it to purchase her favorite Café Americano. This mobile payment system as utilized by Starbucks in the United States is still at its infancy though, and ‘Nay might have to wait at least half a decade before it reaches her favorite Starbucks outlet. So for now, calculator muna. :D :D :D

- Phebean Belle A. Ramos, entry #9