Business Beat for Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014

Lowe’s debuts customer service robots

Lowe’s is testing whether robots can improve its customer service, like helping a shopper find a match for something as simple as a nail.

McDonald’s is loving mobile payment options

McDonald’s customers with Android phones will be able to pay at counters and drive-ups via Softcard. [The Next Web]

Apple CEO Tim Cook says Apple Pay a success

Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple’s new mobile payment system had over 1 million activations in the first three days after it became available.

Amazon to open facilities in Illinois, hire 1,000

Amazon Inc. says it is looking at sites, including ones in the Chicago area, for future distribution facilities.

10 startups likely to transform health tech

Matter, a 25,000-square-foot accelerator, aims to grow next-generation diagnostics, biopharma, health IT and medical device businesses.

Divvy Bikes parent sold

Alta Bicycle Share, the parent of Divvy Bikes in Chicago and similar programs in other metro areas, has agreed to be acquired by a New York company.

United adds 4 new Pacific routes

United Airlines is launching four new Pacific routes this week, including Los Angeles-to-Melbourne service aboard Boeing 787-9 jets. [AirwayNews]

American, US Airways merging mile programs in 2015

American Airlines and US Airways will combine frequent-flier programs early next year and, for now, continue to base free flights on miles flown.

Rose’s Cafe being renamed in honor of owner Lemonis’ mother

Businessman Marcus Lemonis is renaming his two Rose’s Cafe & Bakery restaurants in honor of his mother.

Stocks gain on higher profits, consumer confidence

Earnings gains and higher consumer confidence numbers sent U.S. stock indexes higher Tuesday.

AutoNation halts sales of cars in air bag recalls

The nation’s biggest car dealership chain says it won’t sell used cars being recalled for exploding air bags.

Google working on pill to search for illnesses

Google’s latest “moon shot” project: A pill that would test for cancer and other illnesses.

Taco Bell app lets you order by smartphone

Taco Bell launched a new app Tuesday that lets customers place orders by smartphone from anywhere. [CNN Money]

Buffalo Wild Wings planning to raise prices

Buffalo Wild Wings intends to increase prices by about 3 percent by the end of November. [CNN Money]

FTC says AT&T misled customers with unlimited data

AT&T is being sued by the government over allegations it misled millions of smartphone customers about its unlimited data plans.

Verizon, Motorola unveil Droid Turbo

The companies say you can use the phone for two days without recharging it. [Mashable]

Partnerships draw Northwest Community, Edward-Elmhurst closer

A unit of Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare has agreed to manage Northwest Community Healthcare’s behavioral health services. [Crain’s]

Kmart plans to close 4 more Michigan stores

Hoffman Estates-based Sears Holdings will close a total of 12 stores in Michigan over a six-month period.

McDonald’s readying new ad campaign

McDonald’s plans to launch a new advertising campaign beginning early next year with the slogan “Lovin’ Beats Hatin’.” [Wall Street Journal]

GM to move production of Volt part to US

General Motors is moving production of a critical component in the Chevrolet Volt from Mexico to Michigan.

Macy’s to head overseas with branch in Abu Dhabi

The Middle East will get the world’s first Macy’s department store outside the United States, and just for good measure, its second Bloomingdale’s.

New ‘Call of Duty’ out early at Wal-Mart, others

Wal-Mart will get a jump on competitors when the latest installment of the “Call of Duty” video game goes on sale next week.

US durable goods fell 1.3 percent in September

Orders to U.S. companies for long-lasting manufactured goods fell for a second straight month in September.