The addition of Xbox Live to the mobile platform marks an amazing leap forward in what is possible, not just for gamers, but for an amalgamation of what had previously been a strictly non-portable product with a mobile device. What is possible now is that Xbox Live users will be able to play games on their powerful new mobile device and even playing against Xbox Live users on mobile and non-mobile platforms alike. Portable gaming is nothing new as we know but what makes this special is that Microsoft would be the first to achieve what will be an integration at a platform level and so successfully bridge the gap between mobile and home based platforms. Now that is revolutionary in anyone’s language!
Mobile ticketing and payments have the potential to be game changers for retailers, transport agencies, banks and more. Mobile ticketing eliminates traditional paper tickets, instead sending them to mobile phones via SMS or MMS messaging. So far such a system has been implemented for use at concerts, sporting events, even plane tickets! The possibilities for such a system are vast. The benefits of such a system are mutually inclusive, with costs reduced across the board which in turn should be turned on to consumers as well as the environmental savings by eliminating paper.
Mobile payment offers a form of paying for purchases without having to physically use cards or cash, as they’re all integrated into a single payment system via mobile. These systems exist only online through companies like PayPal and Google Checkout. In the near future though, technology known ‘near field communication’ will allow consumers to pay through credit cards by simply swiping their mobile phones. Such a system would truly integrate the mobile phone with a wallet, potentially ensuring more widespread consumer penetration. Amazon is reportedly considering NFC-based Mobile Payment systems in the near future.
The future of payments via mobile is exciting as is what WP7 has to offer. 4G and mobile technology is exciting stuff and if you want to know more… visit www.txt2get.com
This article was written by Alex Speirs of TXT2GET, an SMS mobile marketing company. For more free insights into industry trends and new technology, visit the TXT2GET blog.