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Starbucks Rolls Out Wireless Charging in San Francisco

You can even borrow a fancy little wireless charging ring for your phone, if you don't have one.

November 21, 2014
Starbucks Duracell Powermat

Attention coffee enthusiasts: If you're tired of fighting with the frequent patrons of your favorite Starbucks over the few power outlets available, then you might be intrigued by Starbucks' latest rollout. The company is officially rolling out Powermat wireless charging stations at around 200 or so San Francisco Bay Area stores.

This isn't going to be a Silicon Valley exclusive. The company plans to offer Powermat-based charging throughout its various U.S. locations (and Europe and Asia) within a year or so.

"We are thrilled to offer our Bay Area customers the next level of convenience with Powermat wireless charging. This first market installation is a first step towards a national deployment of this amenity in our stores," said Adam Brotman, chief digital officer at Starbucks, in a statement. "We were pleased with the customer response to the pilot tests we conducted over the past two years and we now expect an even greater level of customer satisfaction as we set forth to offer wireless charging capability on a national scale."

The Powermats aren't literally mats, per se, on which a bunch of people set their devices while they sip their favorite brews. As shown in Starbucks' images, the "mats" are actually little circular stations built into a Starbucks' location's existing countertops. Presumably, you sit down where the chair is, slap your smartphone on your own little charging "mat," and do whatever else it is you do for the hours you spend in Starbucks.

If you don't have a PMA-compliant smartphone, or a special back or case for your smartphone that works with PMA charging devices like Duracell's Powermat, fear not. You can pick up a somewhat-uglier charging ring that you attach to your smartphone to enable wireless charging for a mere $10 from Starbucks. Or, depending on a location's availability, you can simply borrow one from the store and return it when you're done.

For a list of all Starbucks locations that are Powermat-friendly, simply head on over to Powermat's website and select the city whose locations you want to explore. Happy chargin'.

For more, check out 11 Tips to Boost Your Android Phone's Battery Life and 8 iPhone Battery Tips and Tricks.

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