“Envision this: (1) walk up to a vending machine, (2) tell Siri that you want a Coke, (3) the iPhone establishes wireless communication with the vending machine, (4) the iPhone sends your credit card data to the vending machine, (5) the vending machine goes through its authorization process, and voila (6) the vending machine spits out a Coke,” David Nitz writes for Seeking Alpha.
“Using RFID chips attached to individual consumer product packages, your iPhone will wirelessly recognize each item in your grocery cart. Your iPhone will list each to-be-purchased item and display your invoice on the iPhone screen complete with a total tally and via its NFC chip will transfer the invoice total to the retail store’s computer, charging the bill to your credit card after the authorization is made,” Nitz writes. “Visa is already working with smartphones to do this.”
“Apple’s iPhone users could have two big advantages,” Nitz writes. “First, no phone tapping or code entry would be required because Siri could complete the transaction that you request with an audible instruction. Second, and the biggest game changer of all, after experiencing and perfecting the system in its own retail stores using your iTunes account credit card for payment, it makes sense for Apple to issue its own iPhone-enabled credit card to hundreds of millions of iTunes customers.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Edward W.” for the heads up.]
It’s a great idea. I just feel sorry for the supermarket checkers who’s jobs are slowly being replaced by self-service scanners, RFID and the like. Many of those workers, especially union workers, Costco employees and some others, get wages and benefits that keep them in the middle class.
Self-service scanners at the grocery store suck unless you have 5 items or less. I’d rather wait in line for a real cashier than to wait for the one “assistant” assigned to 6 self-service scanners that never work right and have to be manually overridden by the assistant.
Huh. I love self-service scanners. They always work right and the only holdup are usually people who cannot use the correctly. Then again these are the same people who can’t figure out how to use their credit card in the regular checkout lane so….
Or the people who somehow convince themselves that it is OK to self-checkout an entire grocery cart of goods. There is a reason that the little scale platform on either side of the scanner is so small…the service is intended to help speed checkout for people with just a few items. Get a clue!
I understand your concern. But, do you think anyone enjoys the job of scanning items and having you pay them for those items. Doing that job 8 hours a day, 40 days a week…when they look back at their life and see that they worked for 2 to 3 years or more…who knows… as a supermarket checker, will they be like, yeah that was a good job? I only hope that America can create more jobs, but getting stuck with these jobs that are to fullfill a mindless role so other human beings can do their lives…it just seems like a waste of someone’s time, efforts, and life. I understand there are economic pressures, but lets try and get people excited for work instead of dreading to wake up the next morning.
40 days a week. Makes for a long week!!
Most of the bigger supermarkets are unionized, so the checkers make better than average wages and benefits. Sometimes more money compensates for a lousy job.
Cue union haters in 5 … 4 … 3 …
Well…okay I meant 40 hours a week.
Yeah, but thats not the point. Even if you got paid 15 dollars an hour, which I seriously doubt they do, I don’t think it still makes people any happier in their life. So I say bring on the new technology that will get rid of a cashier. They should instead have them cook food in the store and do taste testings, at least they get to do something interesting like make food. Or hire them as consultants that can look for local food manufactures.
Actually some long time “checkers” make at least that. I remembered busting my hump and then buying some beer at the Fred Meyer…One day I overheard that them talking and they earned the same as me…I really like the U-scan because I don’t have to have boring pretend chit chat with the Checkers. I do appreciate the person who over sees the registers in the U-san area. They remember you and are helpful. And they have a lot going on. But they don’t ring your ear off too much. Its just wham bam thank you man! and occasionally a little talk. By that time you actually mean it. I also imediately turn off the voice on the U-scan and work seamlessly to paying. If I am feeling lucky I do press the spanish voice to hone my speaking skills.
So, if a job doesn’t thrill you personally it shouldn’t exist? Who the hell are you, Willy Wonka? I guess you’re one of the clowns who think every menial and boring job can and should be performed by robots, while all humans devote their lives to creative and exciting endeavors, like art, poetry and yoga.
Pull your elitist head out of your ass and get a clue Nancy.
If we are smart enough to automate the job, yes!
Someone likes calling people names. Elitist, I think not…maybe in music sometimes though. I can’t totally disagree with the Willy Wonka comment…but the elitist stab. Thats a pretty hard judgment on my previous statements. How am I elitist by wanting a world and/or country where EVERYONE can have a job they like to enjoy? Why would you not want that? Even though it might sound impossible…it doesn’t mean that we as a species cannot strive for it. I bet if you were to go to a cashier and ask…hey, what job would you like to do for the rest of your life? They are not going to say being a cashier.
I think like this because I look at our species from where we started. And we didn’t come out of the womb to press buttons on a screen and slide a card on a stripe. It’s hear because of how our economy works….one day it will work better so people dont have to perform that task..and maybe they will get to do something more enjoyable for them.
I was going to say the same thing (:
I think the people who hold those jobs during tough economic times appreciate those jobs. The more automation you crave, the harder it is to create jobs in a capitalist economy. So, someone with intelligence, charm and demeanor like yourself, might find it brutal. To the vast MAJORITY of Americans this is a highly desirable job.
Many stores that invested heavily in automated check-out are turning back and rehiring actual human beings. Turns out a lot of us (myself included) would rather go to a person than fight with a machine that refuses to scan in an item, or insists you haven’t put the item in the bag when you have. Just saying…
A few months ago I read that some SafeWay stores in California were removing most of their self-serve checkouts. At the same time, my local supermarket was installing them. Wegmans, the best supermarket in the US, has never installed them.
It’s a mixed bag right now.
I know Costco pays better than the other discount club chains like Sam’s, but does it really make employees middle class?
The idea that you can use Siri or your iPhone to make purchases makes sense. I have no doubt Apple is looking at this. Certainly other’s are. However, it should be linked to a person’s bank account, not to a credit card account. Apple should not go into the credit card business. Not only is the credit card business far from Apple’s core, it is full of fraud and has a very high delinquency rate.
And what’s the cost per vending machine, or POS, to accomplish this goal. I think it’s a cool idea but I”m just wondering about the cost effectiveness, for a vending machine company in a small town for example, of rolling out the new equipment to accomplish this retail “enhancement.”
I reckon it’s a not an inexpensive proposition. And that’s why there probably aren’t more of these types of facilities available now.
Kinda like the opportunity cost of implementing nat gas refilling – or electric – at service stations and convenience stores. The underlying cost of the technology is probably somewhat of a sticking point.
Would it be any more than a dollar bill changer? Fewer moving parts, so it would probably last longer, lowering total cost of ownership. And bill changers are ubiquitous because consumers demand the convenience. Same might happen with this if it worked well.
Right; Apple really could use a few more headlines like: 6 years old accidentally orders up $4000 of stuff using Siri online. Or in Japan, a baby purchased cigarettes from a vending machine, thanks to Apple. Etc.
Now think of ways to accident proof this idea, say bye bye to common sense and convenience, and soon the entire idea.
So the idea is to use voice recognition, natural language interface, near field communication microchips, wireless digital communication between mobile phones and stationary kiosks, and remote authentication networks from major credit card companies, so people can exert slightly less effort when purchasing sugar water.
Somehow this just doesn’t sound like an idea Apple would get behind.
This won’t happen until a standard credit card protocol exists for RFID or voice. Too many players.
it makes sense for Apple to issue its own iPhone-enabled credit card to hundreds of millions of iTunes customers.
NO.
Why would Apple want to associate itself with the ‘spend ’til you die’ culture, with nasty, loan shark worthy, customer gouging interest rates? Great way to kill user satisfaction. NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
AND: What is the cost per RFID chip?
You’re going to put individual chips onto every pack of gum? Every bag of potato chips? Have the veggie and bulk rate price printers spit out sticky price labels with chips on them? I DON’T THINK SO.
DIY scanning of barcodes, etc., on stuff will live on.
I was going to make a similar point.
The only thing i would add would be the possibility of a no interest card and small fees to the vendor. Even more people would flock to Apple. The card would probably have to be in effect like a debit card so that the vendor gets paid and no balnce remains as far as Apple is concerned, just like iTunes and the app store and Apple would not be in the position of having to collect from people.
In other words Apple would extend it’s current pay in full system to outside vendors and the buyer would still be able to use a debit or credit card on the account as is the case now.
That’s right.
There’s no way Apple would do something like that. Beside the obvious reason (Apple isn’t in that business), it’s the same reason they didn’t start an MVNO for the iPhone and charge people’s iTunes account for service.
People hate credit card companies! People hate cell phone service providers! Why would Apple want to be either one of those? “Apple shut my cell phone off!” or “Apple dinged my credit and put in me collections!” Who’s gonna buy the new iPad after that? Silly article.
Apple has done a fantastic job of distancing themselves and not being greedy. Whoever wrote this article (not going to waste my time and scroll back up and see) is missing a huge point, and probably has a background in sales.
People hated their phones until Apple showed us what we never knew we wanted.
Just because many before you have failed is no reason not to try.
The reward is worth the risk.
Nope. what Apple really needs to buy is permanent bandwidth. so Apple’s services and customers won’t forever be captives of the telcos/cablecos around the world as we all are today. we all hate being jerked around by AT&T, Comcast, and the rest with their bundled plans and data rate tiers.
basically, Apple would license long term use of selected telco wireless data networks in every country, and agree to finance their expansion/upgrades for this with new technology as necessary – all 4G and better. so Apple would become a guaranteed available ISP for owners of Apple products, offering us lower rates than available to everybody else. and with global service at no extra charges.
that would be huge, and crush the competition.
Satellite wifi would allow Apple to do this without having to make deals with each vendor.
sure, once the technology is ready.
“… it makes sense for Apple to issue its own iPhone-enabled credit card to hundreds of millions of iTunes customers.”
No. It doesn’t.
Apple doesn’t want to be in the ‘credit card business’ any more than they want to be in the book, music, games or movie production business. It’s not what they do.
These fscking a**holes need to stop trying to spend Apple’s money for them. This kind of article may generate blog hits, but so does Lolcats.
David Nitz needs to stfu.
I don’t know about this one. Apple would want 30 percent of the transaction, and that ain’t happening at retail.
Apple is smart enough to know what make sense.
The last thing for Apple to do is to go into the credit card business. Credit card business is fraught with the danger of fraud. Banks don’t tell you the truth but they have spent billions on softwares and compensation to overcome fraud. That’s why they have to find ways to cover up the hidden costs of providing you with the convenience of spending your hard-earned money with exorbitant charges and servitude. Banks want you to spend more and more so that when you are in their clutches you would work for them for the rest of your life. Smart thinking but devious ways of making money.
This is not the DNA of Apple to entice customers to endanger themselves to the risk of indiscipline. Maybe Google is more suited to this kind of shenanigans of offering convenience and free credit cards but not Apple. Apple is not a spendthrift, so don’t expect it to complicate its customers’ lives with mountains of debt.
Apple, just continue hoarding money to invest in making great products in the future, which in turn, should help stock growth.
Agreed…Or wait for someone to verify my age, or go through dozens of screens to find a product to weigh
A credit card? How about Pay Day Loans for goodness sake!
As of 2014, thanks to Obama, groups will be able to form into pools to purchase health care at a discount — using the purchasing power of sheer numbers to negotiate lower rates from insurers, just as large businesses do now. Steve Jobs never responded to my email in which I suggested Mac and i-owners could make up a powerful pool. The Apple Owners Health Care pool. I know it’s off the wall for a tech company, but Apple has loyalty and numbers like no other group. Spend a few bucks to get that started.
I love this idea! I would sign up right now for such an account.
Give me points that I can use to earn Apple gear–Anything they offer, from music on up.
You guys really took this off on a tangent!
The truth is that as we create more automation, we create efficiency, which gives companies the affordability to hire more people and pay them better.
As the job changes, the human element evolves, but it will always be there.
I just thought of another idea!
Imagine being able to walk into a store, bag your items, and walk out, and a scanner at the door automatically charges your account correctly!
That would be amazing!
Apple would simply use the iTunes store where your actual credit card is stored. Apple could implement something like PayPal already, giving Apple users a way to send money from one to the other.