As reported on TechCrunch, Apple has applied for a patent that will allow iPhone users to go right through the line when shopping at certain coffee shops and other retailers.
Some say this technology has been around for years and Apple shouldn’t be allowed to put a patent on it while others think retailers won’t accept doing business this way because of the way they market to consumers while they are standing in lines waiting to pay for items.
With the prices manufactures pay to be near the cash register, it only makes sense that this would be detrimental to their sales causing them to no longer pay for their products to be in that particular location.
While some retailers in Japan and other overseas markets have already implemented such emobile commerce options, it remains unseen how Apple plans to have users pay for their items. Will it be with a credit card or will the iphone device have an internal banking system that draws right from your bank account?
Either way, with identity theft on the rise, entering your personal information through text or by voice is a risky thought for many people. Some people only see the advantages of being able to pay for items right from your iPhone to save time and make shopping more convenient. It’s the long term effects that will strike everyone in the retail industry that must be taken into consideration before implementing such technology on a widespread scale.
Apple’s patent application is vague on how consumers will pay for items using this mobile technology making it appear less likely they will get their application for a patent approved.
What do you think about it?
