I came across a queue reduction application for the iPhone and iPod Touch four years ago that was intriguing. At the time it looked like the application wasn’t quite finished or certified for use yet by Apple and Starbucks, but from what I gathered at the time it was meant to work something like this:
- User comes in range of a Starbucks WiFi Hotspot
- Application recognizes the Starbucks WiFi Hotspot or user initiates application
- Application engages the user interface portion of the application
- Application makes a connection
- Application prompts user to order a Starbucks beverage
- Application user interface facilitates the selection and transmission of the drink order (including a list of saved favorites to speed the process)
- Application connects to the user’s iTunes account
- Application deducts funds from the user’s iTunes account
- Application creates a visual barcode with the information necessary to register payment
- User places iPhone or iPod Touch with visual barcode under a reader at the pickup counter
- User collects their beverage
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