Starbucks announced the expansion of its Starbucks Card Mobile payment test to nearly 300 company-operated stores in New York City, and Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island. This builds on the successful launch of Starbucks Card Mobile App for select BlackBerry® smartphones, iPhone® and iPod® touch, and the Starbucks mobile payment test which started in fall 2009. Now, Starbucks next mobile move will offer customers in the New York City area an enhanced Starbucks Experience, including the ease and convenience of paying for their favorite Starbucks® beverage with their mobile phone.

Some brands are striving to unite people, and some of them encourage consumers to keep away from each other. MINI, the brand of small urban cars, is inviting its fans to search for virtual automobiles in Stockholm while keeping as far possible from the people around. The goal of the new promotional game dubbed “Getaway Stockholm” is to spot the virtual cars and do not let it slip out of your ‘hands’ right into those of your ‘enemies.’ The only thing participants can do to keep the virtual auto is to run away from the location where they’ve found it. The fastest and nimblest participant of the unique project will get one MINI Countryman as the grand prize.

Any driver can now find out its true impact on air quality and human health thanks to the launch of a free iPhone App by Volvo, in association with www.cleangreencars.co.uk. The application reveals the toxic emissions of the four pollutants which impact local air quality and human health: carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and particulates.