I've heard of killer apps but I wonder if there's such a thing as a killer vendor/customer.

I hate being too dumb to work at places like this. :(

Out of curiosity I looked up some of the earliest HN stories on Square, posted about 2 years ago:

Square http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=970565 (0 comments)

Square Worth $40 Million Before Launch http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=970880

Jack Dorsey on Square, How it Works & Why it Disrupts http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=971596

Square: All Hype and Little Value for Small Business http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1148953

Interesting move considering Starbucks already had a pretty effective mobile payment app. I use it regularly, and it works very very well.

Link to an article that explains it as well: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/...

You already let the Barrista tag your coffee with your name at Starbucks. Its only natural that now you get to pay for coffee with your name.

This is a big deal. Quite honestly I've never understood the benefit of the traditional Starbucks app, where you swipe your phone in front of their scanner. How is This any different than giving them your cc or sbux card. Paying by name is super convenient, and could help reduce the lines especially with regulars. I've tried it recently at sight glass and it works great.

Square have still yet to break into the European market despite claims from their vanished blog that they were planning to in 2012. This was at the same time as taking Branson on board.

It might stand that they're trying to strengthen their core business in the USA, Starbucks could be a good gateway for them moving forward into other countries.

Okay. I've just not sure I want my name and face popping up on a console at Starbucks just because I'm walked in the place.

Especially not unless I have HUD glasses that will tell me the cute barista's name.

I don't see how this benefits Starbucks.

The real question now is how long will it be until Apple integrates it's own credit card payment system into iPhones to kill Square.

Despite some reports, apparently Starbucks will not be supporting the Square pay-by-name/geofencing features: http://www.splatf.com/2012/08/starbucks-square-payments/

>iPhone, iPad, and Android devices

Hate the double "and", listing should be alphabetical always! cough cough (not ocd) cough

this is a huge deal

Perfect deal for seeding Square broadly. Awesome!