Starbucks further defined its vision for the Starbucks Digital Network, in partnership with Yahoo!, targeted to arrive in U.S. company-operated stores later this fall. First previewed in June, it will give the chain’s customers free access to a collection of premium digital content accessed through free, one-click Wi-Fi in the Starbucks stores.
The Network will offer benefits that elevate the value of free Wi-Fi and invite to a one-of-a-kind destination featuring free access to various paid sites and services, exclusive content and previews, free download, career tools and local community news. Customers will be able to explore the content via six different online “channels”: News, Entertainment, Wellness, Business & Careers, My Neighborhood and Starbucks with tips, images, video, music, articles, etc. from Rodale, Nick Jr. Boost, DonorsChoose.org as well as iTunes, The New York Times, Patch, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo! and Zagat.
Rodale’s section will also feature the Run, Ride and Walk finder online application for local community relevance. The app will provide access to geo-targeted maps of more than 300,000 routes that highlight Starbucks stores along the way, and customers can upload their own trails that begin or end at their local Starbucks.
Nick Jr. Boost to be in the Entertainment channel is a complete, personalized educational program for early learners and their parents. Starring kids’ favorite Nick Jr. characters, the advertising-free service provides fun and engaging learning through games and activities that reward and encourage children as they play.
As part of the My Neighborhood channel, DonorsChoose.org, will help match customers with local K-12 public school classrooms in need of support. DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit website where public and charter school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students, and donors can choose the projects they want to support. Contributors can give as little as $1 to help bring a classroom project to life. After project completion, the donor receives photographs and thank you letters from the students they helped.