14 DAY TRIAL // This morning, Microsoft revealed the new Band, which marks the company’s debut in the wearables market, but in addition to technical specifications and other helpful details about the device, the company also shared some of the things that you can do thanks to partnerships with other firms.
Microsoft Band can be used, for example, to pay at some retailers in the United States, including Starbucks, which becomes one of the first companies to join Redmond in its attempt to make payments easier in a number of stores.
Basically, those who purchase the Microsoft Brand only need to configure the Health application to work with the Starbucks card, and after a quick synchronization with the device, they should be ready to pay for Starbucks coffee by simply using their wristband.
After downloading the Microsoft Health app on your phone, tap on “Manage Tiles” in the top right corner of the app and select the “Starbucks” slider to “Add Card.” Simply insert the 16-digit code from the back of your Starbucks Card, move the slider in the “on” position and tap “Save” to sync the data to your Microsoft Band.
Starbucks cards offered to Band buyers
If you purchase a Microsoft Band from either an online or retail store, you automatically receive a $5 (3.5 euro) Starbucks card which can be used whenever you get yourself a coffee.
Of course, a 5-dollar voucher isn’t quite a breathtaking offer, but Microsoft is actually hoping to make people aware that it’s possible to pay for Starbucks coffee using the Band with just a few configuration steps.
At the same time, Redmond says that it’s also working with other partners to make it possible to perform similar payments, but more information on this will only be provided at a later time.
Up for grabs only in the United States
Today, Microsoft launched the Band in the United States, and for the moment, the device remains available exclusively in the company’s home market.
Even though there are no details on a possible expansion to other countries, there’s no doubt that the Microsoft Band will soon launch in other markets as well, especially because the company made it compatible with Windows Phone, Android, and iOS devices, so it targets quite a wide array of customers.
The device can be yours for $199 (150 euros) and is currently available in limited numbers, so hurry up if you really want to buy one, as supplies aren’t expected to last too long.