Microsoft, Starbucks Partner on Digital Gift Cards

Microsoft and Starbucks are joining forces to boost your inbox with a caffeine jolt. According to a Microsoft blog post, both companies released a plugin that allows Microsoft Outlook users to email Starbucks’ electronic gift cards and set up meetings at nearby Starbucks locations. Users have to install the add-in, then connect to a Starbucks account, which they also need. After that, they can pull up a sidebar that makes it easy to add a gift card to future emails.

Total Retail's Take: I think the Microsoft and Starbucks pairing is a good one. Nothing says "I vaguely appreciate you in a professional manner" quite like a Starbucks gift card. So why not make it even easier to send one to a co-worker or colleague? It's very likely that your co-worker is using Outlook and loves Starbucks. In addition, this partnership makes it easier to set up off-site meetings at nearby Starbucks’ cafes. It's a win-win for consumers and companies!