Credit cards go mobile

MOBILE PHONE giant Motorola is experimenting with putting credit cards and payment functions on their line of mobiles.

Under the bonnet of the cunning plan is Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology which is a short-range wireless system.

It can allow a handset to wirelessly transfer a digital photograph to an NFC-enabled television or download digital music files from a computer. However it has also been used in Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong to provide contactless smart cards for payment and transport systems.

Motorola said it will trail the idea in the US using MasterCard International's PayPass payment service in November.

Of course it gives an added incentive to bag snatchers and mobile phone muggers if they know you phone also includes access to credit too. However we are sure that everyone locks their phone and changes their passwords regularly, so what could go wrong?