I’ve been trying something out that I figured I’d share and see if any one has any advice or comments. In summary, cell phone + larger battery cover + contactless credit card (e.g. Visa PayPass, AmEx Express Pay) = mobile payment enabled cell phone. In other words, I’ve been trying to make my own version of the converged mobile device/wallet by inserting a contactless payment credit card into my phone. I’ve tried just about all the major credit cards and their contactless payment solutions (I’m now on Express Pay) and haven’t really gotten one that can 1. fit in my phone after being trimmed down 2. reach the contactless payment terminal through the battery cover. If any one has any thoughts please do share in comments, and I’ll keep trying and post an update if I’m successful.
If you are not from California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia or Washington then you may not know it but tonight’s Mega Million lottery jackpot is 370 million. I have never played the lottery but since everyone at work was talking about it I decided to peruse the Mega Millions website to learn a little more. Thats when something struck me as a missed opportunity for an obvious mobile opportunity.
Mega Millions offers you the ability to sign up for email alerts and have all the results of the Mega Millions drawing sent right to your email address. Now, my first thought was why don’t they offer a premium SMS service providing you with the same ability to get the numbers sent right to your phone. But then I started thinking about it and thought why not create a service that does one better and text messages you whether you just plain out won or lost (I guess the same thing could be done for email).
Here is how it would work. When you buy a lottery ticket or tickets you also provide your email address or cell phone number or both. Your number and or email address only gets stored in the data base for this drawing and then gets erased unless you choose otherwise. Your numbers are thus associated with your email and or phone numbers. If your numbers are selected or a certain number of your numbers are selected you receive a text message telling you the good news along with the winning numbers and or the numbers that you won a little of the pool from.
This could also all be online where people sign up for the SMS and Email service online and enter the numbers they have picked or where picked for them and get alerted via that means.
Nevertheless, If none of your numbers are selected then you simply get a text that reminds you of the days of looking under the cap of soda bottles “Sorry, you are not a winner.” And then just to rub it in it displays the calling numbers.
The service could be premium or free, that depends on various business model strategies… but I am sorry, its just such an obvious idea I am surprised its not being offered. But then again, based on the mobile marketing drive here in the US maybe I am not.
I am sure now some one will approach them for this but if some one from Mega Millions reads this just remember where you first heard it from
The UK arm of Amnesty International has decided to try another route by recently launching a digital wallet service to allow you to donate to them via your mobile phone. Instead of sending a text message to a premium sms number (short code) you’ll be able to use PayPal rival LUUP to donate directly to them. Apparently the lower costs of doing things this way will let them gain an extra 15% on donations.
The first Amnesty International campaign where it will be possible to donate using LUUP will be related to a crisis campaign highlighting atrocities perpetrated against the people of Darfur. Launched today, this campaign will focus on the abuse of women’s rights in Darfur where rapes perpetrated by the state backed militia, the Janjawid, are a daily occurrence. Donations to the campaign will help Amnesty International to lobby the United Nations and the government of Sudan to deliver an effective peace-keeping force in the region as soon as possible.
The two day launch event brought Cingular, Citibank and Mastercard customers from around the city to one of the speciality winter cafe’s set up in Bryant park (the park behind the New York Public library) for some hot chocolate, snacks and a new NFC phone.
Besides a few little bumps in getting the WAP push through to my phone to download the credit card information technology into the NFC chip in the Nokia 6126 they gave me the process went pretty smoothly. It was simply a mater of putting my SIM card into the new phone, making sure my registration was correct, receiving a WAP push, downloading the application, transferring my contacts to the phone and I was good to go.
The NFC chip actually sits on the front end of the Nokia flip phone which appears, from how I have been using it so far, to be the logical ergo-dynamic placement. The phone has to be on in order for the chip to be read (which is weird when you consider that a key fab is not something thats needs to be on ALL the time). But this is probably because of long term Buying Based Over The Air Marketing schemes that such a technology makes possible.
The Nokia 6126 with the NFC chip is a Cingular branded phone. Information about the chip and or its tag detection sit on top of the home screen which is comforting. The NFC application also gives you a couple of choices in terms of how you would like to handle your mobile commerce experience. The secure element setting allows me to either keep the chip always active (which means all I have to do swipe), in “ask first” mode (which asks if I want to make the payment after I swipe) and “ask for passcode” which asks you to enter a pin like number after every time you use the phone for payments.
I have to admit. I have had the phone for a week now and it is very very very convenient. I have been using it on the 6 train NYC subway system and at Duane Reade’s. I find my self wishing that more places used it. I mean, it makes sense and is very convenient. My phone is usually already out (or the easiest thing to grab) when I am paying for small things.
But credit card machines are not the only “tags” the NFC chip reads. All around the floor where various posters with tags that allowed your phone to access various promotional material but just holding your phone up to the icon. Holding my phone up to the icon on a “Because I Said So” movie poster pushed a message onto my phone asking me if I wanted to go to a WAP address which, when I say yes, brings me to a page where I can download the move trailer, ringtones and other promotional material. According to the people there we will start seeing this at Regal movie theaters and Cingular stores thought the city. Other examples of material that is experimenting with this are Zagat, Citibank (of course) and other LBS tinkerings.
I think that it is undoubtedly the case that this type NFC tag reading will become the real world connection technology of the future. It makes so much more sense and is so much less cumbersome then say, mobile bar-code readers. I just hold the phone of to the tag (which can be placed on ANYTHING) and whatever a barcode reader could do the NFC chip can do as well (as well as pay for the product later, which can create an interesting statistic to look at, in terms of how many people looked at your product and then bought it etc etc).
But one of the even more interesting feature that I spotted on the phone was a section called “Transmit To Tag.” It took a few people before anyone could tell me what it was. The phone info pop up tell me that it “allows you to transmit information to a tag. e.g. text message , call request, business card or bookmark.” At first I thought that this would be a way to send info from my phone by tapping it against the NFC chip of another phone (a feature that would be cool, but that is not what it is). Essentially, the “transmit to tag” function allows a user to program his / her own blank tag(s) with contact data, a URL, text message, or call initiation. That could be REALLY interesting in terms of allowing people to create their own “grassroot” tags for what ever purposes they see fit.
So. just imagine, your business card data is written to a tag using the phone. The tag gets attached to the back of a real business card. Someone than taps his or her NFC handset on your business card and the data is automatically placed in his phones contact list. No typing or bluetooth exchanges sync ups. Just tap and go.
Or just use the phone to create a tag that when tapped will download a promotional ringtone or movie trailer or to initiate an SMS when tapped. This could be used to vote for a favorite music video via SMS for example.
All in all its good to finally see this thing up and running over here in the States. Its an obvious idea that I think we will see more and more demand from as more people see it in action and expect and understand that they can get so much more out of their phone.
If there is one thing I hate it is carrying a bag. But I don’t really have a choice… I at least need my wallet, keys, and phone when I leave the house. I pine for the day I just need to look after one item in my pocket… no bag… no keys… no bulky wallet.
During MoMoDC’s roundtable “Bluetooth is so last year,” we talked about the vast array of possibilities near-field communications (NFC) opens: shorter lines at immigration, the metro, and shopping counters. Greg Barback, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and I passed around an example of MasterCard’s PayPass, a NFC payment solution. PayPass allows payment by simply holding the devise near card reader: No swiping, no signing, no fuss.
While the technology is amazing, PayPass is only accepted at a few locations and used by a mere 13 million Americans. But, before your dream of not carrying a bag dissipates, you should know that Cingualr, Nokia, and PayPass have teamed up to offer contactless payments via your mobile phone! A trial group of Citibank account holders with Cingular Wireless accounts have already been selected. The participants will receive a Nokia handset with PayPass built in. By simply holding their phone near the card reader, trial participants will be able to make purchases wherever MasterCard’s PayPass is accepted. The payment is then deducted from the cell phone subscriber’s account. If the test goes well, we just may have to bring these three to MoMoDC soon!
Are you interested in a new and cool way to use your mobile phone? Citi is offering this opportunity to a very limited number of customers so read on.
Over the next few months Citi will be testing a convenient and secure way to use a mobile phone to buy things and get information. Do you want to be one of the few to test this new technology? And you will even receive a reward to participate in this beta test. All you need to do is click on the link below for more information.
Did Citibank know that one of the customers is a mobile blogger? No, this is not Citibank’s mobile banking application rumored to be in the works…(insiders have told me that they are working on a Quicken like application for the phone). And no it is not the first bank in the US to jump on the mobile banking idea. Chase has, at least in their commercials, been providing bank account SMS alerts for some time now.
So, like the Metrocard Speed Fab (mobile payment tags) Citibank has teamed up with Mastercard and Cingular to test mobile payments and more. Participants in the New York test will receive a special mobile phone that is not available anywhere else (the phone on the webpage is a Nokia), have the ability to pay for all sorts of purchases with just a tap of their phone and get access to special events and exclusive content from sponsors. Users will also be able to download entertainment content at smart posters displaying the trial symbol (shown above next to the Citi logo).
So the phones will probably have the same chip thats in the payment tags only being a phone instead of a stick at the end of your keychain this creates the opportunity for a lot more “interaction” to take place… whatever that means.
I will let you know what happens when I get it and swipe my phone to pay at the nearest PayPass cooperating venue.
Perhaps the Mobile Banking application will be on it as well.
For those of you that don’t know, Frucall is a company that allows you to call into a number to hear prices on products directly over the phone, no matter where you are. All one must simply do is call 1-888-DO-FRUCALL (1-888-363-7822) and enter the product barcode. Its free and registration is optional so it does not hurt to try.
But registering does have its perks as Frucall continues to expand and enhance its audio-based, mobile comparison shopping services with the release of new features and system enhancements. In addition to providing up-to-the-minute online pricing and product ratings for millions of items, Frucall now offers users the convenience of making instant purchases at online prices from any phone. Just in time for memorial day shopping as well
Registered Frucall users can now order items directly on the phone from Amazon’s authorized merchants. Just select the “Buy this item” option after you have listened to the items current online prices. Users are guided through a simple process to confirm payment and delivery details. Once a User Profile is updated with credit card purchasing information on Frucall’s secure server, users can use this feature.
Frucall Also Now Comes With SMS. In addition to hearing online prices, merchants and other details on a mobile phone, registered users can choose to receive the same information as a text message with Frucall PriceTextSM. No need to write information down or remember it, just press the number associated with PriceTextSM and an SMS message will be immediately sent to the Frucall user’s mobile phone.
And they have gone Social Networking crazy as well… but then again what is more social networky than shopping? Registered Frucall users can send Voice and Text Messages to friends, families and groups in their Buddy List. Just login to your My Frucall page, go to the Messaging with Friends section and list the phone numbers of the friends you want to include. The next time you want to send your Buddy List a recorded voice or text message you can do so easily, anywhere or anytime! The feature is free Normal carrier charges apply to receiving text messages, of course but what a great way to send shopping tips and info.
What’s next, a Frucall registry?
What I find interesting about Frucall is that it is a voice and listening featured application reminding us, yet again, what the mobile phone was originally made for and the power of the human vox.
San Diegoites have a new cool service that allows them to use the internet and their phone to pre order a meal from their favorite participating restaurant and cut the lines. Simply put SpeedEOrder allows you to order food directly from the phone, web or mobile interface. “Why have coupons when you can just make your order right on your mobile while you drive over to pick it up?” says Sander Van Zoest who is helping program the project. The service can remember your favorites and allows you to set default settings for such things like “no mustard” or mayo. You can also use your Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit card to pay for your orders. You can either charge just enough to cover your current order, or you can add funds to your SpeedEOrder account in $20 increments, saving time for future orders.
In SpeedEorder you actually get to see the full menu and configure it via touchtone, voice (VoiceXML by dialing 1-800-SpeedEOrder) or in the near future mobile apps (as per now the service supports physical coupons,delivered by web, email and SMS but its not in play yet).
Right now “we consider mobile phones to be another method to use our service,” says Van Zoest. “Most people seem to use our service from the web right now. No numbers to remember, just a URL.” But all that will be changing soon he assures me.
Nevertheless, I always find it interesting when I find a voice featured mobile application and service… reminding us just what it was a cell phone was originally intended to do and reminding us of the power of the voca.
SpeedEOrder is currently in a beta launch in the San Diego, CA area.
I just some MOpocket readers out there with their mobile projects would like to know that Entrepreneur and tech guru Sean Moshir has launched a media- and technology-focused VC fund called Moshir Venture Partners and plans to make seed investments of $250K-$1 million in online and mobile entertainment companies and related fields. Happy hunting and gathering.
Hey Sean, if you ever need a young energetic fresh thinker to come on board let me know
Just in time for the mobile Movie going weekend… if you are in Michigan that is. that is. Mobile Box Office, a service that allows moviegoers to use mobile phones as tickets, is now available for all shows at the Emagine Novi Theatre.
The company also kicked off a marketing campaign to promote the service in the Detroit area that includes newspaper advertisements, radio sponsorships, and in-theatre promotions.
Emagine Novi is the second theatre to offer the Mobile Box Office(TM) service. Emagine Canton first introduced the program on January 18, 2006.
Mobile Box Office customers use a web-enabled (WAP - Wireless Application Protocol) mobile phone with color screen to browse movie dates and times, and then select and pay for any event. After making a show selection and secure credit card transaction, a moviegoer receives an electronic, bar- coded ticket on their mobile phone, which is scanned at the theatre for entry.
I’ve been trying something out that I figured I’d share and see if any one has any advice or comments. In summary, cell phone + larger battery cover + contactless credit card (e.g. Visa PayPass, AmEx Express Pay) = mobile payment enabled cell phone. In other words, I’ve been trying to make my own version of the converged mobile device/wallet by inserting a contactless payment credit card into my phone. I’ve tried just about all the major credit cards and their contactless payment solutions (I’m now on Express Pay) and haven’t really gotten one that can 1. fit in my phone after being trimmed down 2. reach the contactless payment terminal through the battery cover. If any one has any thoughts please do share in comments, and I’ll keep trying and post an update if I’m successful.
