The latest thing that a mobile phone can do...

[max_tranmere]

I read this week that the latest bit of advanced technology that mobile's will soon be able to do is by-pass the chip and pin thing in the supermarket. Rather than put your card in and punch in the four-digit number, you will just have to wave your phone near the till and it will automatically debit your bank account for the amount your purchases came to. Impressive, huh?

[Peter]

Yep, near field recognition.

Being tested in US Starbucks at the moment, initial results seem to be it's working well, and cutting queuing times. MacDonalds testing it too. Limited to ?15 at the moment.

[max_tranmere]

I wonder how they will be able to avoid fraud with this. If a phone has been nicked for example. Also the signal could be picked up and cloned and therefore someone else could operate as you and spend money from your account. Just like car keys (or rather the remote bleeper car key thing) can be cloned.

[Peter]

From what I've seen of the Starbucks one, you wave your phone in front of the scanner, your phone screen shows the price and a "Make Payment" confirmation button pops up for you to press to complete the transaction.

[Arginald Valleywater]

Techno criminals will be creaming themselves when this hits the market!!

[rgb]

I just wish you could hear people clearly when you use the things as a phone !

[Bob Singleton]

I'm no Luddite, but I don't want my phone to also be a camera, a radio and a debit card. !furious!

[RoddersUK]

That is exactly what is happening Max.

It doesn't take the thieving bastards long to find a way round any of these ideas.

[one eyed jack]

I'm no Luddite, but I don't want my phone to also be a camera, a radio and a debit card.

Yeah Bob, wait for the iCar app. All you have to do is shake your iphone and BAM! Your phone turns into a car like that transformers movie and wheels sprout out of your phone and you can drive the car...Just add water!