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VeriSign, Coca-Cola enable mobile payments
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The idea of purchasing a soda via a mobile phone appears to have come full circle. Six years ago everyone was looking at Japan and saying, "They even have the capability to buy sodas from a vending machine with their mobile phone! Look how far ahead Japan is!" (That links to a real picture of a mobile payment-enabled vending machine in Japan.)
Well, six years later, VeriSign's intelligent software is enabling wireless customers in Austria to make purchases at Coca-Cola vending machines. It's good to see other markets finally catching up with Japan, albeit six years later. VeriSign announced a deal with wireless carriers mobilkom austria and the ONE to bring this mobile payment function to more than 2 million customers. VeriSign developed the technical interface between Coca-Cola machines, cellular operators and the payment system for the more than 100 beverage vending machines around Austria enabled for mobile payment.
For more about VeriSign's deal in Austria:
- check out this release
Comments
Posted by Anonymous | November 10, 2006 - 10:24am
I was able to buy a Coca Cola out of a Vending machine in Zurich Switzerland over five years ago. I have paid with a T-Mobile phone, which actually had a US Phone #. The charge was on my T-mobile phone bill. As you see the possibilities were here, but a lot of people just did not know.
Posted by Eli Dickinson | November 10, 2006 - 11:13am
I understand that carriers already have this big billing infrastructure set up, but so what?
They've got vending machines that accept credit cards too and I don't quite see how this is better.
Posted by Amanda | November 28, 2006 - 2:28pm
There are 2 reasons purchasing small items like a coke are better purchased via mobile phone than credit card:
1) From a marketing/sales perspective, people ALWAYS have their phones on them, even moreso than a credit card.
2) From a purchase perspective, I'm not charged interest on my mobile phone balance, so its better for me to place a $1 charge on my mobile bill rather than my credit card.
In addition ot this, I'm more nervous about someone stealing my credit card (and potentially obtaining personal information) than someone obtaining my mobile phone # - that can be changed and blocked more easily than a CC#.
Posted by Dave | November 28, 2006 - 2:44pm
Unfortunately, both of Amanda's first two comments are inaccurate.
1) A global study I read showed that 81% of consumers take their cash/credit card with them "always" compared to 53% who take the mobile phone always.
2) You're are charged interest on a credit card only if you carry a balance. Although it's called a late fee, the same principal applies with your cell bill. In both cases, paid on time = no additional cost.
Posted by Sean | November 28, 2006 - 6:04pm
But you don't earn airline miles spending more with your cellphone!
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