UPDATE: Starbucks has commented via Twitter about the apps not yet being available in Canada …
we are working on bringing the iPhone apps to Canada, promise! Will announce it here as soon as I have a date!
Lets hope the announcement comes soon.
I love a good cup of coffee – and while Starbucks isn’t usually my first choice, I do know there are plenty of them around when I need a quick caffeine fix. I’ve used a couple of apps that show the locations of the nearest Starbucks before, but I was never blown away. So I was really excited when I heard Starbucks was releasing official apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch. What was until I tried to find them in the app store.
Right now both myStarbucks and Mobile Cardare only available in the U.S. and not in Canada. So those without an American iTunes account are out of luck for now. I still haven’t seen any announcement when the apps might be available here in Canada. Anyway, I wanted to try them out so I set up an American account and downloaded both apps – which are free.
Let me start with Mobile Card. Even if you have an American account, this app is pretty much useless for Canadians right now. You can start it and input your Starbucks card, but you’ll get this message.
What makes Mobile Cardcool is that it lets users check their card balance without logging onto Starbuck online. It also allows you to transfer more money onto your cards. But the best part is that the app will display a scan-able bar code, allowing it to be used to pay for anything at Starbucks. So really, no more carrying around those cards. You just need your iPhone or iPod Touch. Currently this feature is only being tested in 16 stores in Seattle and the Bay Area. So I understand why this app isn’t available in Canada just yet.
It’s the myStarbucks app that I question about not being available in Canada. It works flawlessly for me. When you first open the app you get the home screen.
From here you have a lot of different options. It lets users locate stores and bookmark favorites.
Once you click on a store it’ll bring up its address, phone number, and various amenities at that location. You can also get directions to the Starbucks depending on where you are.
That’s not all, the app lets you pick your favorite drink and customize it the way you like.
Once you have it the way you like it you can check all the nutritional information of your drink. Ok, so some of us may not what to know just how many calories or sugar is in our drink. But if you do, it’s all there for you.
Along with the drinks, it even has all the nutritional information for the food Starbucks sells. It even pairs the food with certain coffees. And if all that wasn’t enough, you can click on Coffee and see a list of all the coffees Starbucks sells for you to enjoy at home – but not only that, it gives a description of them, and suggests similar coffees you may enjoy.
As you can see, this is a very jam packed app with lots of information. It’s too bad it’s not available in Canada yet. But if you do have an American iTunes account and enjoy Starbucks, I highly recommend the myStarbucks app.
