Starbucks tests smart smartphone case

Starbucks Japan is involved in a unique trial which allows customers to order and pay for their coffee with a swipe of their phone.

The concept uses a branded smartphone case which is preloaded with the customer’s preferences.

Trend monitoring website Springwise.com reports the Starbucks Touch phone case was developed in collaboration with Japanese clothing brand Uniform Experiment, and can currently be used in two Starbucks branches in Japan.

The case – made for iPhone 6 – is designed to resemble a Starbucks coffee cup and features the brand’s iconic logo. It works like a prepaid Starbucks loyalty card, letting customers make cashless coffee purchases. It also enables users to save their preferred store and favorite beverage via a companion app. Upon arrival, customers simply launch the app and place their order, settling up by touching their phone case on the contactless payment device.

The Starbucks Touch is available online for JPY 3000, or about US$25.