Burger King is going mobile.
Bloomberg reported that the fast-food chain announced that it will soon begin accepting payments through mobile devices. The new app will be available in April and will be accepted in all 7,000 Burger King locations in "a few months," said Bryson Thornton, a spokesman for the company, in an e-mailed statement.
In addition to payment options, the app will give loyal Burger King customers coupons for things like fries and drinks. The Burger King website also stated that customers can investigate nutrition information before selecting something tasty from the menu.
Burger King, the second-biggest U.S. burger chain by store count, plans to add other features, such as the ability to pre-order food. Mobile payment services are gaining in popularity, as rival companies attempt to woo a younger crowd.
"What younger consumers are looking for is the ability to use their phones to do everything," Darren Tristano, executive vice president at Chicago-based Technomic Inc., said in a phone interview. "The cell phone has replaced the wallet."
Starbucks recently announced its newest app, which allows customers who order their drinks using the application the option of tipping their baristas from their iPhone. The application will suggest tip amounts on the transaction screen, allowing users to pick from $0.50, $1.00 and $2.00 tips. A "no tip" option will also be available.
Wendy's announced Friday plans to develop a program to let customers pay using their smartphones. The company has been testing the mobile payment option over the past year and said a majoriy of its chains are ready to accept the payments.
"If they want to come in and give us business, we want to allow them to pay the way they want to pay," Craig Bahner, chief marketing officer for Wendy's, said in a phone interview.
According to a 2012 study from Technomic, about 19 percent of American consumers used a mobile device to make a restaurant pickup or delivery order. Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts, and Chipotle are all reportedly experimenting with the options as well.
