Apple and Starbucks Announce Music Partnership |
Wirelessly Find and Buy Music at Starbucks
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple(R) and Starbucks
today announced an exclusive partnership that lets customers wirelessly
browse, search for, preview, buy and download music from the iTunes(R)
Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks onto their iPod(R) touch, iPhone(TM) or PC
or Mac(R) running iTunes while at a participating location. When a customer
enters a participating location, their device will automatically recognize
the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store using a high-speed Wi-Fi wireless network with
no connection fee or hotspot login. Customers will be able to browse,
search and freely preview millions of songs, including a new "Now Playing"
service which displays the name of the song playing in the Starbucks store
at that moment, then easily buy and download songs or albums directly to
their device. Prices and selection on the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store are the
same as on the regular iTunes Store. The service will make its debut at
more than 600 Starbucks company-operated locations in New York and Seattle
on October 2.
"Getting free access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store and the 'Now
Playing' service at Starbucks is a great way for customers to discover new
music," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Imagine walking into a participating
Starbucks, hearing a great song, and being able to instantly download it
onto your iPod or iPhone. We think this is very cool."
"With this partnership, we're bringing Apple's leadership in digital
music together with not only our retail footprint, but the unique Starbucks
experience, to offer customers a world-class digital music experience,"
said Howard Schultz, chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company. "Introducing this
new service is a natural extension of our music strategy which only
enhances the retail coffee experience for customers by helping them
discover and acquire new music instantly."
After its debut in New York and Seattle on October 2, the iTunes Wi-Fi
Music Store will continue its national rollout to 350 Starbucks stores in
the San Francisco Bay area on November 7; 500 stores in Los Angeles in
early February 2008; 300 stores in Chicago in March 2008; and additional
markets throughout the US later in 2008.
The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks will run on the robust
T-Mobile HotSpot Wi-Fi network which is available at participating
Starbucks locations across the US.
With Apple's legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as Cover
Flow(TM), integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless
integration with iPod and iPhone, and the ability to turn previously
purchased songs into completed albums at reduced prices, the iTunes Store
is the best way for PC and Mac users to legally discover, purchase and
download music and video online.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the
Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the
Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with
its award- winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and
professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media
revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online
store, and has entered the mobile phone market this year with its
revolutionary iPhone.
Starbucks Coffee Company provides an uplifting experience that enriches
people's lives one moment, one human being, one extraordinary cup of coffee
at a time. To share in the experience, visit http://www.starbucks.com.
(C) 2007 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac,
Mac OS, Macintosh, iTunes, iPod, iPhone and Cover Flow are trademarks of
Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
SOURCE Apple
back to topRelated links:
CONTACT:
Tom Neumayr of Apple, +1-408-974-1972,
tneumayr@apple.com; or Doug Cavarocchi of Starbucks
Entertainment, +1-206-318-7100, press@starbucks.com
