Starbucks is launching Powermat wireless charging zones in ten central London Starbucks stores, the first on the high street to offer this technology.
According to research, 92 per cent of people in the UK experience varying levels of stress if their smartphone battery runs out of power. Having introduced free Wi-Fi to all UK customers in 2011, Starbucks now hopes to do for wireless power what it did for wireless data: solve a real problem for customers.
“We are excited to bring Powermat wireless charging to the UK on the heels of our very successful rollout in the San Francisco market,” said Carlo Chiarello, Chief Solutions Officer, Powermat. “As Powermat continues to deploy wireless charging across the United States and expands beyond US borders, Starbucks customers are among the first to benefit from this new convenience and added value.”
The initial ten installations will be available in central London stores by the end of January 2015. The ‘Powermat Spots’ are wirelessly connected to the Powermat-Network Cloud, providing real-time health monitoring of each Spot and venue, as well as online feedback from the Cloud to the Spots, allowing for immediate monitoring and attention when needed.