Starbucks Testing Mobile Order and Pay In Portland On iOS

qubezz writes For those who just can't wait in line, Starbucks announced today that the caffeinated city of Portland will be the first stop in the roll-out of an app for ordering drinks from your mobile device (iPhone only, Android anticipated in 2015). Not a delivery service — it appears your pre-paid drink will be waiting at the end of the bar for the asking. The cost? The app won't operate unless you allow it access to GPS location services, potentially turning every coffee consumer's device into a tracking beacon. For the rest, there's still the independent site mapping which Starbucks are currently open.

Comments

Tracking Beacon?

[Mr. Sketch]

potentially turning every coffee consumer's device into a tracking beacon

Sensationalize much? Maybe it's just to tell which Starbucks you're closest to so it know where to place the order or narrow down the nearby store results? That would be the more likely reason.

Do people seriously think that any app requesting location services is turned into an always-on tracking beacon sending their every move back to Big Data(tm)?