Starbucks makes it easy for customers to buy coffee. So easy, in fact, that they don't even need cash or a credit card. A smartphone will work just fine. To capitalize on the growing popularity of these devices, Starbucks introduced mobile payment technology in January 2011 that enables purchases with the wave of an iPhone, Android, or Blackberry.

"A lot of our customers have their phone in their hand when they come into our store," says Adam Brotman, chief digital officer at Starbucks. "We knew that customers were increasingly more mobile—were increasingly using their phone as a primary computing device."

Recognized by U.S. News as one of America's Most Connected Companies for implementing the largest mobile-payment program in North America, Starbucks says the technology is boosting sales.