That’s the new services to be offered by two great companies: Apple and Starbucks. According Seattle Post Intelligence:
Apple’s new wireless iPod music player, iPhone or any laptop computer running iTunes will automatically recognize the iTunes store without a connection fee when customers enter a Starbucks shop that has Wi-Fi access.
I think this is a good idea, and I agree with Ken’s comments quoted below.
“I can’t tell you how many customers have come into our stores over the years and loved a song that they hear and asked our baristas, ‘What’s that song? I’d love to buy it,'” Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks’ entertainment division told The Associated Press.
Don’t expect this will have significant financial impact on either AAPL or SBUX, because both are big companies. But I do think together they are providing a useful service for certain customers. After all, business is not only about sales and profit, it’s also about creating value for customers.
The service will roll out in New York and Seattle on Oct 2. Other places will follow.
The companies said the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store will be added to 350 Starbucks outlets in the San Francisco area on Nov. 7, 500 stores in Los Angeles in early February, 300 stores in Chicago in March and additional U.S. markets later next year.