Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Sunday, May 22, 2011

It's not a mobile wallet. It's just a phone.

Mark Bridge writes:

Don’t get me wrong. I’m excited about the idea of mobile payments (despite the occasional appearance to the contrary). But I think the Quick Tap launch and all this talk of a ‘mobile wallet’ is a little overhyped. And here are the three main reasons why:

1. Contactless payments have been in the UK for almost four years. This is just another type of contactless card.

2. Mobile payments have - in various forms - been with us for well over a decade. This is just another mobile payment mechanism.

3. There’s no app on your smartphone that’ll hold a condom, a couple of first-class stamps and a book of matches.

All this suggests the mobile wallet isn’t going to replace the wallet-wallet for a while.

Until buses all take mobile payments, gym lockers all take mobile payments and parking meters all take mobile payments, you'll still need cash.

Until every retailer has an NFC card reader - payWave, PayPass and the like - you'll still need conventional credit and debit cards.

And until contactless payment technology is perfect... and your phone becomes invulnerable to physical damage... you'll want some kind of back-up.

However, it’s not all bad. Leaving aside the vast number of Quick Tap Toccos that’ll be sold to curious people within the mobile industry, mobile payments are likely to become another string to your smartphone’s bow.

In the same way that my phone offers a camera if I haven’t got a ‘proper’ camera with me and a video player if I don’t need a big screen, it’ll provide a useful backup if I forget my real wallet. One day it may even replace cash payments. But the end of cash?  Not for a long while.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

1 comments on article "It's not a mobile wallet. It's just a phone."

1
0
Avatar image

James Rosewell

5/23/2011 3:46 PM

Surely anyone carrying a Quick Tap phone will not be considered attractive enough by the opposite sex to need condoms? That just leaves the matches and the stamps.

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

Why the cloud will kill SMS text messages... eventually

Mark Bridge writes:

This week my lovely wife made a rare error in leaving her mobile phone behind when she left the house. Fortunately I was working at home, so I was able to answer her calls and relay her messages. But it got me thinking. What were the alternatives?

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: No rating

This week at The Fonecast: 1st May 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

We've had another short working week here in the UK... although not necessarily if you're working in retail. The reason for that shortness was a combination of Easter Monday and the Royal Wedding – an event that was rumoured to have its own mobile phone jammer.

As well as having another short week, we've also had another week of financial figures.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

This week at The Fonecast: 23rd April 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

It’s Easter, but that’s not stopped the mobile phone industry from generating plenty of news stories.

Let’s start with partnerships. Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom - which already work together as Everything Everywhere in the UK – have now agreed to combine their procurement activities for customer equipment, network equipment, service platforms and IT infrastructure. Yes, even these two telecoms giants can save money with group buying!

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Exactly how boring is the Samsung Galaxy II S?

Mark Bridge writes:

In July last year I wrote about the 'geek porn' of unboxing being taken to a new level with celebrity unboxing (which sounds rather like a challenge from a reality TV show).

Sony Ericsson had persuaded Maria Sharapova to give her first impressions of the X10 Mini Pro. The end result was entertaining, if not insightful.

And now Samsung have added a new facet to the trend with 'extreme unboxing'.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

This week at The Fonecast: 16th April 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

We started this week with a story that grabbed plenty of attention. It was a report from Billmonitor.com that claimed we in the UK were wasting almost £5 billion every year by choosing the wrong mobile tariffs. Although I remained a little cynical about some of the detail, there's no doubt that many consumers could be better off if they switched tariff - or even network.

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First7576777880828384Last

Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«November 2025»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
272829303112
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
1234567

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement