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Phone Swipes To Speed Starbucks Lines?

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork.com) - If you've ever waited in one of those interminable morning lines at a midtown Manhattan Starbucks, good news may be percolating.  The company said on Wednesday that customers with certain BlackBerry smartphones, iPhones and iPod touch can now use those devices to make purchases at all of its U.S. company-run stores.

The coffee chain said mobile payments can be made at almost 6,800 company-run stores and more than 1,000 Starbucks in U.S. Target stores.

Starbucks anticipates the program will make it easier and faster for some of its customers to make purchases. Customers can download a free Starbucks Card Mobile App to get started.

The Seattle company said test markets in Seattle, Northern California, New York and more than 1,000 Starbucks in domestic Target stores have successfully used the program.

Aside from making purchases, customers can use the app to manage their Starbucks Card account, check their card balance, reload their card with any major credit card, check their My Starbucks Rewards status and find a nearby Starbucks using the store locator feature.

Tell us about your favorite or not-so-favorite Starbucks stores...

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