Starbucks And Apple Announce New ITunes Wi-Fi Partnership

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Yesterday (9/5), Apple and Starbucks announced an exclusive partnership that will let customers wirelessly browse, search for, preview, buy and download music from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at participating Starbucks using their iPod Touch, iPhone, PC or Mac computer. Free from connection fees and HotSpot logins, access to the Wi-Fi music store will also feature a “Now Playing” service that will show customers the name of the song they hear in the store and give the option to purchase and download the track directly to their personal device.

“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,” said Howard Schultz, Chairman of Starbucks Coffee Company.

Prices and selection on the Wi-Fi store are the same as the regular iTunes music store, and the service will make its debut in New York and Seattle at more than 600 total locations on October 2nd. By the end of 2009, all U.S. company-owned stores with wireless access (about 5,800 Starbucks) will offer the service, according to Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment.