You're going to want to start checking under all those sofa cushions and sift through the lint and stale popcorn kernels for every loose penny you can find. Why? Well, because it's money, and money can be exchanged for goods and services, but that's besides the point really.
It looks like Microsoft has penned one hell of a deal with Outerwall. That name might not sound the most familiar to you, and as a result, you probably don't care. But Outwerwall owns and operates not only Redbox, but Coinstar as well. Do I have your attention now? Yep, those snazzy coin sorting machines that organize and count your change you've been keeping in that collection of 7-11 Big Gulp cups for the last few months, then take a nice percentage out of it for the nefarious robot inside doing all the counting (machines gotta eat, too).
Chances are good that the next time you pour your collection of loose change into one of those machines, you'll be able to walk away with your choice of gift cards in lieu of a few greenbacks. Gift cards are already offered for shops like iTunes, Starbucks, GameStop, but now Microsoft is getting in on the action. As a result, Coinstar's gift card options will now offer Xbox Live Gift Cards and Windows Phone Store codes. The real bonus though is that if you go with the gift card option, that 9 percent sorting fee Coinstar machines traditionally charged will be waved.
It's a nice fringe for the lazy folks who want to avoid rolling their own change, or if your local Coinstar happens to be a closer drive then wherever you ususally snag your choice gift cards.
There's no word on exactly when Coinstar will become offering Microsoft gift cards, but as far as Xbox Live Cards, they'll range from $5 to $100. It's definitely a smart move on the company's part to broker such a deal, especially with the company's next-gen Xbox One fast approaching.
The console launches on Nov. 22, and will be available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, UK, and the United States for $499. A cross-country tour where Microsoft is demoing the system at various locations is already underway, and retailers are already readying themselves for the system's arrival.
