In the Sacramento area, you can pick up a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts for free.
Under one condition--
Pocket Points is a free app that rewards students for not using their phones during class. Students simply have to open the app on campus, lock their phone, and stay off of it while in class. The app racks up points depending on how long a person stays off their phone. Typically, 20 minutes of time away from your device earns users one point.
The points can be used at local and online businesses for discounts, freebies, coupons and gifts-- for anything from food to clothes. The app is used nationwide at more than 100 college campuses and high schools including Sacramento State University, UC Davis, Sacramento City College, and American River College.
Participating businesses in the Sacramento region include four Krispy Kreme locations, Leatherby's Family Creamery, RC iPhone Repair, and Squeeze Inn on Power Inn Rd.
If you're not a student and want to use Pocket Points, you're in luck. Technically, if you have a Facebook account, you can download and use the app as long as you're near a classroom that partners with the app.
Pocket Points currently reaches two million students and has about 500,000 users, according to the app's co-founder and COO, Mitch Gardner.
Given it's popularity on campuses, it's no wonder the idea for the app was born at a college. In 2014, Gardner was a student at Chico State with his fraternity brother, Rob Richardson, when the two noticed there was a major problem in the classroom.
"People were always on their phones. And we were part of the problem," Gardner said. "Like any entrepreneur we were looking for a problem to solve."
The app launched at Chico State in the fall of 2014. Pennsylvania State University followed shortly after with 40% of the students on campus signing up as users.
By fall of 2015, Pocket Points had launched in 65 different cities.
But just how does the app work? Are there loopholes where students can earn points while away from the classroom?
Pocket Points uses 'geo-fencing' which is like a GPS fence around a campus. The app strategically fences away from dorm buildings and stays within classroom limits. Katie Durham, the promotions manager for the company, said it's really difficult to cheat and rack up points.
"You'd literally have to leave your phone in the classroom," Durham said.
However, Pocket Points does break away from the classroom occasionally to hold promotions. The more users on the app at the same time, the more points that can be earned.
"If we want to do a point competition in a dorm between floors, we can temporarily geo-fence a dorm building," Durham said. "People love it-- they get really involved. It's a way for people to meet each other and an incentive to tell friends."
Double points can be earned on '2x2 Tuesdays'. And people will make an effort for those extra points. Just over the past year, users collectively spent 650 million minutes away from their phones while using the app. That can't be a bad thing for school grades-- and parents are on board.
"Parents are paying tuition. Instead of texting or being on Instagram people are paying attention [in class] because they want that free coffee at the end of class." Durham said.
Students and parents aren't the only ones reaping benefits from Pocket Points. Local businesses are also seeing positive results. The company strives to bring more student traffic to businesses and delivers on their promise, Gardner said.
"Mom and pop stores are doing really well because people love their local businesses," Gardner said.
The Weinery-- a hot dog eatery not too far from Sac State-- recently joined the app. Carolyn Canas works at the restaurant and is excited to see people using Pocket Points once school is back in session.
"I think it'll be really good, "Canas said. " I look forward to seeing people get off their phones and come in for a delicious hot dog."
Pocket Points does a lot of research to see where students like to spend their cash, according to Durham. But some students may think more research needs to be done to make the app more practical. ABC10 spoke to students at Sac State, who said the app drains their battery since it runs for long periods of time. They also said it uses up a lot of data.
Despite these setbacks, the future is looking bright for Pocket Points. The company is pushing to get more high schools on board, Gardner said. The app will launch in 20 new high schools this fall. Pocket Points is also looking beyond school campuses and hopes to available for use in churches, at movies theaters and even while driving.
"We're working on a 'drive mode' right now," said Durham. " It's on the back burner for now, but it would be nationwide. It's an incentive to get people off their phone while driving."
You can download Pocket Points at the App Store or on Google Play.