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Groupon, a deal of the day website that offers something fun to do, see, eat, and buy in cities around the world, has launched two new features: Groupon Stores and the Deal Feed. Groupon Stores lets restaurants and other businesses set up an online storefront where they can offer Groupon discounts whenever they would like. The Deal Feed is a feature for consumers in which they can “follow” their favorite restaurants and merchants to be notified of all deals offered from the Groupon Stores. These new features have launched in a few popular cities, with more cities to be added soon.

So you may be asking yourself, “Why should I join Groupon and use the new features?” The answer is simple: why not? The coupons that the site offers are perfect for a gift or to just use on your own, Groupon will help you save money so that you or your friends can have tons of fun near home without having to spend tons of cash. Groupon.com offers an easy way to get huge discounts while discovering cool activities near the city you choose. And on top of saving cash, it will also save you time by having the ability to receive all the great discounts by email.

Some disadvantages of Groupon are you have no idea whether the deals are going to be useful to you or not. Some deals also look good on the surface but then have restrictions, for example you may have to use a coupon by a certain date or on a certain amount. With this said, the only inconvenience of being a Groupon member is getting an email every day. There is no fee or anything involved. Just stay diligent and read the fine print and you are sure to find some great deals

Groupon is currently available in more than 85 cities in the US. With more than 8.2 million subscribers, it is certainly a service to consider.  For more information about listing coupons for your restaurants on Groupon, check out www.grouponworks.com

I am, admittedly, a coffee-holic. I find I am happiest when I can start out my morning with a hot cup of joe. Though there are many small coffee shops around, one of the most popular places to get coffee is still Starbucks. In many cities there is a Starbucks every few blocks.

So what is their key to success? Starbucks doesn’t rely on just the java to bring their customers in. Starbucks also makes sure to create a great atmosphere that is friendly to their tech savvy customers. Computer users at Starbucks spend about one hour per visit on Wi-Fi. Now, they are reaching out to these customers by providing exclusive free software and downloads from the likes of Apple and Nickelodeon, along with some major news providers.

I think this is a great idea. I know I like to be up on current events but hate to spend the money on USA Today or the New York Times. Now, these sites will be completely free for those using the Wi-Fi at Starbucks. This will certainly increase the time I spend there, as well as many other customers.

Many restaurants have been jumping on the Wi-Fi bandwagon. Popular fast food places like McDonalds have even begun offering Wi-Fi. This is a great way to appeal to tech savvy customers and enhance a restaurant’s appeal.

What do you think? Will Starbucks’ profits increase because of these new features? For more information about Starbucks new network, check out http://mashable.com/2010/08/12/starbucks-digital-network/