LEXECORP

Wallet Phones

Just a short while ago I mentioned C-Mode vending machines in Japan and the efforts by VISA, Nokia and Google to do, in effect, the same as what Japanese Wallet phones already can.

And so, this fresh article at Reuters reassures me that others out there are aware of how far behind we are in this respect. I am somewhat surprised that it took this long to make news, considering I blogged it on Oct 7th, over a month ago, and it would not be NEWS to anyone who regularly visits or, of course, lives in Japan.

Well in about 9 days, and after 3 months in Bangalore, India, I too will be back in Japan, for yet another stay of 2 weeks. This should give me time to appreciate and research more of the technology that I see whilst on the ground.

Returning to the the Reuters story, it is impressive that their researchers dug up that “more than 50 million, or about half of all cell phone users, already carry phones capable of serving as wallets”. This is quite incredible. But then, as I have pointed out about fibre optic internet access (FTTH), technology take up in Japan is unparalleled.

If you are an IT business “mover and shaker”, please read the Reuters story and think carefully of the investment opportunities resulting from a forecast like “Some 700 million people worldwide are expected to own such (wallet) phones by 2013″. I know that I for one will be further expanding my phone market knowledge and technology skills. Here’s looking forward to a phone enabled vending machine on every corner (and you will just have to visit Japan if you want to know what I mean ).