Starbucks have confirmed on their blog that they have just released their new Passbook App for iOS6 users.

Passbook is a new App within iOS6 that allows you to store and manage multiple virtual tickets, cards and vouchers storing the electronically rather than as a physical item. Many companies have been offering this service as individual Apps, but Passbook lets you roll them all together in one central location.

The other advantage Passbook has is that it intelligently prompts you at a time or location where you might need one of your stored cards – for example as I approached my local Starbucks today, a notification appeared on my home screen that I was close and did I want to access my Starbucks stored card?

At an airport, as your flight boarding time approaches Passbook will automatically have your electronic ticket ready for you. And so on.

So how does the new Starbucks Passcard work?

First of all, update to the latest version of the Starbucks App on your iOS6 device – v2.5

Then open the updated App, and you’ll be prompted to add your Starbucks card to your Passbook. You can also do this manually from the Manage menu.

Upon confirming this, you will see your new Passbook Card created for you, which contains the details, account balance, and a scan-able barcode, just like the regular App.

Then, when near a Starbucks location, you will receive a notification on your lock screen that a stored card can be used nearby. In the full Starbucks App you can set your preferred shops, I presume something similar will also happen with other Apps as they start to include Passbook integration.

There are very few Passbook enabled Apps working in the UK at the moment, Lufthansa is another example, but expect to see other major retailers jumping on board soon.

About Rob Gordon

This post was written by Rob Gordon, an IT geek, gadget lover and blogger. Rob has been using the internets since 1994 when the only streaming video was that coffee pot in Cambridge (rip).... Follow Rob on Twitter - @robgordon

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