Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Starbucks Debuts Digital Content Service

Seattle-based Starbucks unveiled the firm's digital network effort, the Starbucks Digital Network, today, saying that it is now serving up premium news, entertainment, and lifestyle content at its stores in a partnership with Yahoo. The firm--which had announced its plans for the digital content network in June when it made Wi-Fi access at its stores free--said its content network will include news from the New York Times, WSJ, and USA Today; music and videos from iTunes; links to Foursquare and LinkedIn; as well as other providers. The firm is offering up free music tracks, a movie clip, and digital novel to promote the launch of the network. Starbucks made a major change in its wireless strategy in June, when it said it would no longer require a loyalty card or the purchase of Wi-Fi time at its stores; the new digital content service is directly tied to that effort.