Scavenger Hunters Wanted for the "Starbucks Summer Pursuit"

Starbucks Launches the First Mobile Scavenger Hunt Game with Intelligent Image Recognition

While the urban -- and suburban -- jungle may be a beast to navigate, the only "compass" Starbucks customers will need to guide them through the sweltering summer months is their trusty cell phone. Starbucks is engaging its customers beyond its "third place" and into the "every space" that surrounds them during the season with a first-of-its-kind scavenger hunt in the United States. "Starbucks Summer Pursuit" is an innovative mobile phone game utilizing intelligent image recognition, which understands participants' responses to themed clues.

The "Starbucks Summer Pursuit" will challenge the novice gamer and excite the enthusiast. By deciphering a series of text message clues, players are challenged to answer summer and Starbucks-related trivia questions, by submitting them via mobile phone in the form of a picture or text message. The "Starbucks Summer Pursuit" is the first mobile scavenger hunt incorporating visual recognition technology to determine whether submitted images represent the correct answer to each question, and also send additional clues to create an ongoing, interactive experience with each player.

"Starbucks has been a strong advocate for technology since introducing Wi-Fi into our stores in 2001," said Brad Stevens, Starbucks vice president of Marketing for Retail North America. "As our customers continue to incorporate new technologies into their lives, we want to extend and adapt the Starbucks Experience accordingly in ways that will surprise and delight them."

The five-week trivia contest/virtual scavenger hunt will begin on July 10, and culminate in a real-time finale in New York City for five lucky contestants (and their guests) chosen at random from those who have registered at http://www.StarbucksSummer.com. The hunt for the final clues in the ultimate concrete outback will reward the winner (and guest/teammate) with a trip to Costa Rica, one of the world's largest coffee-producing countries.

"Starbucks is thrilled to be the first company to integrate this kind of continuous, interactive gameplay," added Stevens. "It's the perfect way to provide our customers with a unique summer adventure that they can pursue on their own time, and in their own communities."

To play the "Starbucks Summer Pursuit," players can text message "SUMMER" to 66268. Within seconds, players will receive text clues on their mobile phone. The virtual scavenger hunt game will end on August 11, 2006, at 11:59 p.m. PDT. In addition, players should register at http://www.StarbucksSummer.com for a chance to play the Ultimate Scavenger Hunt in NYC.

Participants of the "Starbucks Summer Pursuit" will be surprised and delighted during the mobile game play, stir up excitement and interact with other players by posting messages and pictures about their game experiences, and access game rules and instructions all at http://www.StarbucksSummer.com.

For every trivia question they answer, "Starbucks Summer Pursuit" players receive an entry into the sweepstakes for a chance to play the Ultimate Scavenger Hunt in NYC. In September, the five winners and their guests will convene in New York City, where they will compete in the Ultimate Scavenger Hunt -- a two-day challenge to put their scavenger skills to the test using the entire city as their playground. The team that proves to be the most successful adventurers will be whisked away to Costa Rica.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER: Game open to all legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (except Hawaii), the District of Columbia, and Canada (except Province of Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their home state, province or territory of residence at time of entry. The sweepstakes ends on 8/11/06. For complete rules and regulations and how to enter without purchase go to: http://www.StarbucksSummer.com. Void where prohibited.

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