McDonald's Mobile App Will Roll Out Nationwide This October

We now know that the McDonald's mobile app will be a loyalty program for beverage purchases.

When you buy five McCafe coffees, frappes, or milkshakes, you will get the sixth one free, according to The Chicago Tribune. It's a similar model to that of other beverage apps, such as those for Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts. The app is an effort by McDonald's to build customer loyalty and appeal to mobile app users.

The app will be available nationwide by October of this year. It was first tested in San Diego and will launch in New York City this week.

The app also has a store locator and list of nutritional facts for each menu item. Customers cannot order or pay for food through the app yet, but they can find region-specific coupons to use at their local restaurant. For example, when the app first came out, San Diego residents had access to a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for Big Macs.

The McCafe loyalty program will expire at the end of this year, but it could continue if it is received well by the test markets.