The end of credit cards???

I was going to update my old Blackberry for a Droid EVO next month as I understand that I may be able to use it instead of a credit card.  I wonder if it will eliminate the AMX $75.00 annual fee?  It is predicted that the phone will replace the wallet?  I do not know.
 
http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/24/pf/end_of_credit_cards/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I'd be afraid to have credit card information on a cell phone that I could easily (and often) lose.
 
Too easy for the hackers.

Paul, if you gotta have an amex, get an Amex Blue...no fee and cashback

AMX is the only card I have.  I use to have others but I discarded them years ago.  The card I have has a very high limit on it which is and was a necessity because of my travels.
 
I am not  a proponent of the phone as I just read it today.  I am comfortable with the way I currently handle all my charges.  Some of the issues mentioned above would also concern me but from what I read in the article, the trend will continue until it eliminates the card.
 
I will upgrade my phone next month but will probably not use the phone as a card.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Phones will eventually replace many Personal Computers. By the way, how's Kodak & Polaroid doing these days??

we are the only country that lags. Other countries have aps on there phones for about anything. Walk up to vending machines punch you acct. and viola out pops whatever. Billed at the end of month. Started with drink machines and has moved on from there. This is not new. 5-6 yrs. old.
Now I wish they would change the credit cards magnetic strip to a safer card. To easily skimmed.
What Europe has the chips in them that most theves look somewhere else.
 
 

The article about phones replacing cards is titled as it is to grab attention.
 
Truth is, not everyone needs a cel phone, and even fewer are in need of a so-called smartphone

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the death of cash.

TJ Jackson


The article about phones replacing cards is titled as it is to grab attention.

Truth is, not everyone needs a cel phone, and even fewer are in need of a so-called smartphone

 
Everybody I know is cancelling their landlines and most are using their smart phones in place of their computers for emails and other uses.
 
I believe smart phones will replace all other needs including landlines, computers and many other uses.  It is incredible what the future holds for smart phones.  Starting your car, electricals, appointments and thousands of other uses.  Personally I have not got anywhere near that far in usage but I hope to get there.  I killed my landline and I will up grade my Blackberry for a Droid EVO 2011 that has incredible capability.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN
 
Paul E. Smith
knoxville, TN

Sundancer7

I believe smart phones will replace all other needs including landlines, computers and many other uses.

For many folks, true
 
For many other folks, particularly ones who have not needed a cel phone and/or a credit card, probably not true

I have an iPhone, an iPad and a computer. I'm finding all three have their place for optimum use and I will probably continue to use all three even though they can all do things the others can do.
 
As for credit cards I've had to replace my primary card two times with new numbers after traveling abroad. You become a target for fraud. Go to Bolivia and Peru and find out someone books hotel rooms in Columbia. Go to Italy and find out someone books airline tickets out of a city and airline you've never been in. Fortunately, and thanks to iPhones and computers I can check my accounts daily and nip the fraud in the butt.

TJ Jackson

Sundancer7

I believe smart phones will replace all other needs including landlines, computers and many other uses.

For many folks, true

For many other folks, particularly ones who have not needed a cel phone and/or a credit card, probably not true

 
I understand what you are saying and my mother falls in that category but regardless, it is a matter of time that both go out of vogue.  It is not pleasant to me but I see it coming.  Maybe not this year but it is coming.  Land lines out, credit cards out, cash out and whatever else is out.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Foodbme


Phones will eventually replace many Personal Computers. By the way, how's Kodak & Polaroid doing these days??

About the same as Countrywide Mortgage!

When it comes to Technology, I'm roaring into the 19th Century. Hardly ever turn my cell phone on. Guess I better hurry up and catch up!
I've instructed my Grandkids to become Hand Surgeons. All those Texters are going to need Surgery!

I don't own a cell phone.  I don't pay my bills online.  Most of mine are set up on drafts and I still use a check book.   I have one credit card and seldom use it.  I'm stuck in the Dark Ages.

I really don't think you folks are thinking far enough into the future.  I am waiting to get a smart phone that is "smart" enough to operate strictly by mental telepathy!

Sundancer7
I believe smart phones will replace all other needs including landlines, computers and many other uses.  It is incredible what the future holds for smart phones.  Starting your car, electricals, appointments and thousands of other uses.  Personally I have not got anywhere near that far in usage but I hope to get there.  I killed my landline and I will up grade my Blackberry for a Droid EVO 2011 that has incredible capability.

Paul,
 
I made the quantum technology leap from a traditional cell phone to the Sprint EVO 4G and love it.  Be aware that the battery life is awful - if you leave the house, don't forget to pack your charger.  But, the trade off of poor battery life for an amazing phone is well worth it.  It has replaced the need for me to carry and point-and-shoot camera when I travel (the EVO has an 8.0 MP that does a great job for many portrait-style photos and snapshots), as well as a GPS (the EVO has both Sprint Navigation and Google Navigation loaded).  That makes my travel bags lighter - and therefore, my life easier.
 
I was skeptical when I first made the purchase that I was buying a new "toy phone."  I have come to realize that I have a very powerful hand-held device that does a lot of functions - one of which happens to be making phone calls.
 
That said, while I store a TON of information on the phone, I don't know that I am ready to make the phone into my own personal payment device.

Here you go. Near-Field Communications

 
 

Recently we made a major leap up the techno-scale (for us). We eliminated our home landline phone completely. We did add a third cell-phone to the family plan so that we could continue using the landline number on our family-cell net. Too many locals were used to our landline number to try to explain the changes here in the "Lanesville Triangle" (noted for it's primitive techno-culture)
 We also went from a single USB modem for the desktop to a WiFi wireless modem which allows various devices to access the net within a limited range (in the house).
  Finally, we were allowed a free upgrade of phones with all the above changes. We selected some 'normal' flip-top Samsung cell phones  that are very similiar to our old Motorola phones. The do have cameras, and will text...but both those features are of no interest to us. I have received a text or two, but neither of us care to try to type anything on the tiny keyboards on these devices.
   Our numbers remain the same, but now I must be careful where I put the "Home-phone cell" as it is only one device replacing the 6 cordless phones we used on the old landline link.  I may just use call-forwarding to have those calls sent to my cell which I carry with me all the time now.
    The motivation for this "Giant Leap for Mankind" ???  $$$$ of course !!  Our monthly bill for the combined net and phone service will drop about $70 after all is subtracted and added by Verizon.
OH  One more thing about the Credit Cards...We use a Costco Amex that gives us a kickback on purchases that is more than triple the annual fee for Costco Membership, and has no Amex fees at all.

I'm on the cusp. Still can't post photos here but had to learn how to text to communicate with son and very young co-workers. Still worry about losing my cell phone or forgetting to plug it in. But once I figure out how to have my internet without a landline I will probably lose the landline.

Jim
I wear my cell on a lanyard around my neck (phone tucked into my shirt pocket), much like I wore an ID badge at work for many years.
FYI, my Verizon wireless 'WiFi' at home costs dropped from the $59 a month on the old program to $35 a month with this new WiFi deal they have. You may want to look into it.

Incredible how technology changes.  Here will be another option.  Your new wallet.
 
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/26/new-iphones-ipads-make-retail-purchases/?test=faces
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul,
 
That's the Near Field Communications photo I posted earlier. Just hold your iPhone within 4" of the credit card device instead of swiping a card. It's coming but not available right now.
 
When I go to an Apple store and buy anything the sales person just enters the transaction into an iPod Touch standing anywhere in the store. I already have an account set up through my iTunes account. I usually just have them e-mail me my receipt which I can check on my iPhone before departing the store. Slick. No need to pull out a credit card or waiting in line at a checkout counter.

If I had to count on the reliability of my iPhone to transact anything I'd be doomed.
 
[A Totally unrelated rant ... sorry] ... Today, I got to the Apple store, where AT&T tells me I have  to go to redeem my replacement phone (for my 3G where the little round button has stopped working) for the $60+ warranty I paid for when I bought this piece of cutting-edge technology
 
... I get to the Apple store at the mall at 10:04 AM ... I am there as the employees are still filing in ... it is me and (roughly) 11 "specialists" ... I'm told to go to the Genius Bar "sign in" computer and it gives me the next available appointment AT NOON!
 
... Me. Maybe 3 other customers. 13 blue-shirted store employees ... and a TWO HOUR WAIT. 
 
Anyhow there is a moral to the story.  In the old days, the old gregg would have exploded right there in the store.  But instead, the new, more mature, slow and steady gregg ... asked for some assistance anyhow ... waited 15 minutes while they huddled about this ... and sent me on my way ... telling me to go online and make an appointment NEXT time
 
... So, me (the new, more mature, slow and steady gregg) left -- unfulfilled and came this "" close to having a stroke in the car ... was surly to my friends and everyone else I encountered all day.
 
Lesson: Learned.  Trust me.