Starbucks’ mobile payments strategy continues to gain steam, with recent reports stating that the coffeehouse chain has processed 42 million payments processed via its mobile application.

Starbucks is building on the significant success of its mobile payments app with several new capabilities, including making drive-thru payments available for the first time and extending its PayPal integration to Canada.

In what likely means a major step forward for its mobile strategy, Best Buy has hired Stephen Gillett, an instrumental force in Starbucks’ mobile successes over the past couple of years, to further the retailer’s position in the mcommerce space.

There has been a flurry of news related to mobile payments of late but two very important stakeholders have been mostly absent from the announcement: retailers and handset manufacturers.

Starbucks’ mobile payment app is helping drive more frequent purchases and contributing to the company’s revenue growth, a company executive revealed during its first-quarter earnings call.

Maxim Integrated Products Inc. is suing Starbucks, Expedia, Capital One and Bank of the West, alleging these companies infringed several patents with their mobile payment apps.

Now that I have your attention, there is an interesting parallel between Carrier IQ and Starbucks that explains a lot about the phantoms we battle in the mobile world.

Sears has been named 2011 Mobile Retailer of the Year, the highest accolade in mobile commerce and retail. Who else won the prestigious Mobile Commerce Awards?

Starbucks China is using mobile advertising to encourage users to check-in on the social network Jiepang as part of a holiday-themed promotion.

Starbucks has exceeded 26 million mobile transactions since the launch of its mobile payment program in January.