Slashdot Mirror
Do You Accept Cellphone Payments?
beuges writes "In one of South Korea's latest efforts to establish itself as a technology trendsetter, the country's three telecom giants, major credit card companies and several banks have been working for a year to enable Koreans to pay for everything from groceries to petrol by cellphone."
"but obviously those very clever people in government have some evidince to the suggest this is possible."
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h ttp://www.amta.org.au/?Page=174e shop.org/safety/banned.htm
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Nope, it's largely a combination of more-or-less urban myth and arse covering.
http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.as
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/8885.shtml
http://www.mobil
This statement issued by Motorola:
http://www.motorola.com/mot/documents/0,,423,00
Even such (not quite former) third world countries like Poland have e.g. parking payments via SMS.
Robert
Bastard Operator From 193.219.28.162
Actually, most sparks involving entering / exiting one's transport vehicle typically are the fault of slick interiors and good scratchy clothes. When one slides out all in one motion, one generates a fairly large amount of static. If the next thing you do is bridge the gap between the pump and your car, you could have a little problem. And there is the BOOM! you describe. -theGreater Alternative.
It's a great idea and all but there are problems I forsee that could arise.
I used to work as a cell phone dealer, everyone wanted a cellphone after they became a fashion statement and parents were siging up for 1-2 year contracts in order to let their 9 year old children have a new toy to show off at school (like the recently releasedN-Gage for example). The problem is that if you give a child a cellphone like this, it is the same as handing them your credit card. It was rare that these parents I tried explaining the plans to cared to listen so when they got their $400.00 bill they came to me screaming. No matter how advanced the system, a phone like this in the hands of a child could cause serious problems for their parents. It isn't bad enough that going over the minutes in your plan will give you a $200.00 bill, now you have to worry about your child who wants a pony... You just gave them the ability to buy one!
The only other major concern I have would be how to incorporate a solid security system. I am sure that a PIN system will be implemented, but there are always those few foolish people who don't care to remember their PINs by heart and would rather leave it saved as a message or note in their phone. Now what would happen WHEN (not IF, dear reader) that cell phone is lost? I can't tell you how many times A DAY I used to have my customers come in (some literally in tears) telling me they had their phone stolen or lost. I could just see the mass hysteria cell phone dealers of the future would have to deal with when a customer loses one of these...
Business \Busi"ness\, n.;
A scam in which all people involved perceive as beneficial...
In Copenhagen, Denmark, you have been able to pay parking tickets with your cellphone for over a year now. There are also supposed to be some vending machines where you can pay with your cellphone, but I haven't seen any of them yet.
Some of us in Hong Kong are paying for our groceries, transportation and a lot more with our Octopus cards
...can be a dangerous mix :
Mobiles a fuel pump risk!
DRIVERS have been warned to switch off their mobile phones at petrol stations because of the danger of them sparking fires. The alert follows three incidents where phones have ignited petrol fumes after motorists answered calls while filling their vehicles. One person was left with burns to the face and another received groin injuries. The NHS health chief called for warning signs at the entrances of petrol stations, adding: 'I urge people to remember to switch off phones and keep them off until they leave.'