James Delahunty
6 Sep 2007 10:31
Starbucks Corp and Apple Inc. have announced that through an agreement, iPod users will be able to access the new iTunes Wi-Fi music store and purchase songs in Starbucks' coffee shops. The service will debut in 600 different Starbucks stores in New York and Seattle on October 2nd. "We know a lot of people are going to be very happy with this new combination of coffee and iPods," Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said.
Jobs said that both companies have been working on the deal for over two years now. Through the deal, Starbucks hopes to boost its sales and also its stake in the music business. Users with a new iPod Touch, an iPhone or a laptop running iTunes can access the free Wifi to browse the iTunes store.
While navigating through the iTunes store, customers will be able to see what song is currently being played in the Starbucks store they are in and can purchase it easily. Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz said it was "mutually beneficial to both Apple and Starbucks." He hopes the deal brings new customers to Starbucks.
"It is highly relevant and very cool for young people to buy these new devices, and certainly we recognize that demographic and age profile is younger than our core customer," Schultz said.
Source:
Yahoo (Reuters)