Want a Soda? Grab Your Cell Phone

Mobile phones have become more and more essential as applications and uses for them continue to bring convenience to everyday life. Using our cell phones we can surf the web, watch TV, read emails, listen to music, get driving directions, take pictures, film movie clips, and for mobile phone users in Austria, buy a soda too.

VeriSign (News - Alert) Inc. announced today, they have signed a deal with wireless carriers, ONE and mobilkom austria, to provide a mobile payment function for Coca-Cola vending machines in Austria.

For the solution, developed in Austria, "VeriSign created a technical interface between Coca-Cola machines, cellular operators and the payment system for more than 100 beverage vending machines," a news release noted. This mobile payment option will be available to over 2 million wireless customers.

Mobile purchasing is increasing in popularity across the world, especially as electronic transactions become the standard. In fact, the global user base for mobile payments is expected to expand from 65.5 million in 2005 to 178.8 million by 2009, Yankee Group (News - Alert) reported in their August 2006 report, "Mobile Phones Transform into Mobile Payment Devices".

Using mobile phones to make purchases offers not only faster, more convenient purchases, but also reduces potential for fraud, and increases the potential for purchasing.

"As consumers are growing increasingly dependent upon mobile devices, mobilkom Austria and ONE recognized the opportunity to provide compelling services that make everyday activities like buying a soda from a vending machine even more convenient," commented Jeff Treuhaft, senior vice president, Digital Content Services, VeriSign in a statement to the press.

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Stefania Viscusi is an established writer and avid reader. To see more of her articles, please visit Stefania Viscusi’s columnist page.

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