After a pilot with stores in Boston, Starbucks is now going to work on a national roll out of ‘Powermat Spots’, which are essentially designated areas on tables & counters where customers can charge their device wirelessly — assuming it’s compatible of course.
The full rollout will start off with stores in the San Francisco Bay Area and will be rolled out across other stores in the U.S. (including Teavana Fine Teas + Tea Bars) over time. Unfortunately for customers in Europe or Asia, you’ll have to wait for the pilots to start at some point later this year.
About this new venture, Adam Brotman, chief digital officer at Starbucks says:
“From WiFi and the in-store Starbucks Digital Network to mobile payment and digital music downloads, we have always tried to anticipate our customers’ needs early in the adoption curve and provide a world-class solution.
Rather than hunting around for an available power outlet, they can seamlessly charge their device while enjoying their favorite food or beverage offering right in our stores.”
In terms of compatibility, Powermat Spots will comply with most mainstream Android device manufacturers like HTC, Huawei, LG and Samsung. The wireless charging spots can be used with an iPhone, but you’ll need a dedicated wireless charging case like this one to make it work.
