Mobile users say no to wallet phones

Using mobile phones as a wallet is not an idea that appeals to many prospective consumers, suggests a study.

Esther Swilley, an assistant professor of marketing, Kansas State University, said cell phone users were wary of putting banking accounts, identification and other sensitive information onto a device that gets left in cars, buried in the bottoms of purses and lost between sofa cushions.

Swilley said: "It was the risk that was involved, and people didn't want to take the risk.

The expert, however, predicted consumers would be more willing to accept keeping an airline, movie or sports ticket on their phone.

Swilley said: "I think what's going to happen for consumers to accept a wallet phone is that it's going to have to go in stages. So now we have everybody's telephone number on our phones. Next you will be doing airline tickets and things like that on your phone. Next thing you know, everything in your wallet is going to be on the phone."

The study was due to appear in the Journal of Consumer Marketing.