We’ve all been there. You’re waiting in line when suddenly you reach for your back pocket…and realize your wallet isn’t there. Well, good news, fellow geeks: The days of needing cash or even a credit card to pay for purchases are almost behind us. The cell phone is gaining new power in the world of payment and can actually connect you to cash right now – if you know how to make it happen.

Highlighting a variety of existing technologies, Jason Raphael of geeksaresexy.net has this to say about Cell Phone Payment:

Let’s start with what’s in the works. A developing technology called NFC, or near field communication, is growing closer to our pockets by the day. NFC lets your cell talk to other receive sites – kind of like BlueTooth, but quicker. With NFC, you can wave your phone in front of a receiver and have a connection within a second. NFC also works in a shorter range – about four inches max – and uses two-way communication, so the connection’s more secure.

As you can imagine, the possibilities with this thing are endless. The hope is that NFC will eventually act as a virtual credit card, letting you simply wave your phone in front of a panel to make a purchase. It’s also being tested for public transportation – hold your phone up to send your fare and board the bus – as well as eventually for identification, storing your official documents to send to anyone in a split second. In the future, NFC could even let your phone act as your car or house key, connecting with a panel on the door to transmit your identification and let you in.

This innovative idea makes it easier to hear your favorite songs and share them with the people around you.

Touch Tunes and LocaModa are linking up 30,000 Jukeboxes that can be controlled via mobile phone, meaning you don’t have to drunkenly stumble through hoards of people at a bar just to get some decent tunes. The juke boxes are all linked to media servers, that have the ability to export data into social networks such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.

In addition to extending the on-location experience to social networks, the partnership between TouchTunes and LocaModa will allow patrons to use their mobile phones to interact with flat panel screens on TouchTunes jukeboxes. Applications will feature fun, engaging content such as information about the music playing on the jukebox, user generated content and even patron photos via their social network profiles. All interactions can also be displayed as data feeds on social networks. Online users will be able to view and participate in the activity at their favorite locations, for example: they can see who has “fanned” the location, who is actually there, what music is currently playing, and they can even “gift” songs to friends at that location.

Source: Yahoo via The Web Outside via Newlaunches via Gizmodo

Have you ever visited a place or viewed a landmark, only to be left with unanswered questions about its history or purpose? Science Daily has published an article about an innovative combination of three of today’s modern technologies: satellite navigation localization services, advanced object recognition and relevant internet retrieved information; that may leave you with the satisfaction of being the know-it-all of the tourist world.

When coupled with your Cell Phone, this technology has the power to be your next personal tour guide.

How does it work? If you see something interesting while out walking for instance, you take a photograph with your mobile phone, select the item of interest with the cursor and in real time preprocessed information on the object selected is sent to your mobile phone.

“It could be a building, a mountain, a tree, plant or a special event such as a local festival,” explain Pechtl. “The amount of information you receive depends on you, if you want to know more you just click the ‘more button’ and you trigger a more detailed search responding to your profile of interest. Applications include tourism, education, remote healthcare, security, science, etc.”

The European Union on Monday opened the way for air travelers to use mobile phones to talk, text or send e-mails on planes throughout Europe’s airspace.Midair service may be available as soon as this year on some airlines for passengers using European GSM technology. The United States and many other countries ban mobile devices in the air because of concern they could disrupt a plane’s instruments.

Under the plan approved Monday, cell phone users could make and receive calls through an onboard base station. They will be allowed to turn their phones on after the plane reaches 10,000 feet, when other electronic devices such as portable music players and laptops are permitted.

The EU regulation sets a common standard by which passengers can use mobile phones during flights and airlines will only need to get one license that will apply across the entire 27-nation bloc.

The equipment airlines install must be approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency to ensure the onboard cellular network will not conflict with other in-flight systems.

Selmayr, the EU spokesman, said the phone service will not be available during takeoff, landing or during turbulence. He said the captain and crew of the plane can determine when the system is shut down. Networks would also prevent linkages to ground-based cell stations, providing added security for the flight.

“It doesn’t mean you can leave your mobile phones switched on now during the flight, we have to make that absolutely clear,” Selmayr said. “First wait what your airline tells you when you board the plane. Until further notice the usual reminders to switch off your mobile phone on the aircraft will remain in place.”

Most services that are being rolled out this year are being provided by OnAir, a unit of planemaker Airbus.

With the increased interest in environmentally friendly products, cell phone consumers are questioning mobiles’ green credentials.

[…] manufacturers, forced by legislation in other parts of the world and consumer demand, are now racing to create the first genuinely “green” mobile phone.

Consumers are interested in something more than just a sticker on a box – they want a company that’s doing the right things,” says Nokia Australia corporate communications manager Louise Ingram. […]

As consumers become more environmentally conscious, Cell Phone companies will need to step up their green efforts and show that they can deliver.