3 Future Areas of Use for Mobile Phones

It is absolutely amazing how the cellular telephone has evolved over the last ten years. If you are looking for a new career in business, having up to date information on what a cell phone can be used for will help you keep ahead of your competition. What is even more amazing is where it is headed. Technology Futurist and Business Strategist Dan Burrus shares some of his findings in a recent article about his forecasts for the use of this modern day scientific marvel.

• “Mobile finance: In the near future, you’ll be able to do banking on your cell phone, such as doing money transfers to other people. How do we know this? Because other countries are already doing it. For example, in Kenya, where we assume everything is behind the times, they have a mobile phone system where if someone owes you money, he can use his cell phone to transfer money from his account to yours. As this technology makes its way to the States, cell phones will become a vital part of people’s banking.” As you absorb the impact of Burrus’s observations, you can began to see how this can open up all kinds of ways to allow you to manage and use your money smarter and more easily.

• “Mobile commerce: There are places in the world where you can pay for your restaurant, auto service, groceries, parking meters, or any other item with your cell phone – without using a credit card. You’re simply using your mobile phone to pay for the transaction. To prevent fraud, cell phones will have biometric ID capabilities that can detect everything from the user’s fingerprint to voice pattern and facial recognition. Such measures are actually far more secure than using a credit card.” As this kind of technology is making its’ way into your life, you can begin to see the ways you can use it.

• “ Mobile customer service: As mega stores dominate the landscape, shoppers need more access to customer service personnel. Imagine a customer being in a huge warehouse type store and being able to use her cell phone to pull up a map of the store and locate the nearest customer service person. Or, even better, imagine that customer being able to touch an icon on her cell phone screen, which automatically lets the customer service rep know where she is and that she needs help. The technology to do this exists today; it’s simply a matter of businesses applying it to this scenario.” Being able to do this would give your organization a head start on the competition in your industry.

When these cell phone features become available and you put them to use, they can make you a smarter and more effective consumer and business person.

Tom Borg is president of Tom Borg Consulting, LLC. He is a business consultant, speaker, coach and author.