Apple Thoughts: Shop At Starbucks and Pay With Your iPhone

"Is there anything more troubling in this modern world than having to use a credit card to pay for overpriced coffee? Thankfully, Starbucks is making life easier for iPhone, iPod touch, and BlackBerry users, releasing an app for those platforms that will let customers pay for their caramel macchiatos with their mobile devices at 6,800 standalone locations and 1,000 Target-based locations."

I don't drink coffee, and I've never been in a Starbucks, but this is a cool idea. I wish every large chain would allow mobile payments. Japan is way ahead of us in this regard; they've had mobile payments for years. Of course, they have an entire system in place made specifically for safely tying your bank account to your phone. Still, this is a good first step. What do you think: Are mobile payments the future?