This is not a technology blog, but everyone in the business relies on portability for connection, with laptops, Blackberries etc. So it was with some interest I read last week about the Foleo from Palm, and decided to study it this morning. Is it just me, or are Palm still operating in 1995 mode? i would safely predict this new device will be a total failure. It’s an ultracompact computer with a twist. Palm is positioning the sleek clamshell device, which will sell for $499 after a rebate, as an alternative to carrying a larger, conventional laptop. It offers a … Continue reading Mans best friend – Five reasons the Palm Foleo will fail ….

Wells Fargo announce a mobile service for their high end commercial customers. This is worthy of mention given that the mobile world in Banking has been retail focussed until now, so this is innovative from Wells. The initial version of the CEO Mobile service, made available to a small number of business customers on April 30, delivers key treasury reports through a secure browser session. Functions that Wells Fargo plans to add later this year include wire approvals, image positive pay exceptions, and administrative tools such as password resets. “Mobile service makes executing financial transactions more convenient and flexible for … Continue reading Wells Fargo announce a mobile service for their Wholesale & Treasury customers

Javelin anounce some new reports on the potential for adoption of mobile banking. While I agree with this statement from the press release, I think a nuance is missed here. While consumers are better primed for mobile banking now than they were in 2000, financial institutions (FIs) should not consider the mere availability of mobile banking a guarantee of success. FIs should prepare for measured, rather than widespread and immediate adoption, even though consumers, handsets and mobile networks have made tremendous advancements. Source: Javelin Mobile Banking … the assumption is that online banking or ATM functions would be replicated on … Continue reading Mobile Banking | a replacement, or a supplement?

Clairmail will be announcing implementation of their product with Bank of Stockton, in California. BofS is a 16 branch operation, and this is indicative of how smaller institutions do not have to let the big guys beat them on funtionality. On-Demand Account Management – Bank of Stockton customers can check their balances, view their account history, and conduct transactions such as fund transfers. Actionable Alerts – Customers can receive and respond to 2-way alerts for cases such as low balances or check overdrafts, along with the ability to approve or deny certain types of transactions. I like this type of … Continue reading Bank of Stockton (16 branches) introduce Clairmail solution

 Another article on the topic of mobile banking in Africa  Earlier we posted a reference to Wizzit.  Here the Economist talks about the challenges of authentication, and usability, but there are several players in this space in Africa. There appears to be a real need for the service. A simplified kind of account called Mzansi was launched in 2004 to reach the unbanked, and portable banks and ATMs have been rolled out in townships and in the countryside. To this fast-changing scene, mobile-phone banking looks to be a promising addition. Millions of South Africans send money to their relatives in … Continue reading Mobile telephony and banking | Phoney finance | Economist.com

Wireless Banking (as in looking at your cell screen, for the North Americans) is big everywhere in the world except North America.  Some are now predicting that the right elements are in place, including infrastructure and suitable devices that this might start to kick in, during 2007.  Mobile phone banking has yet to hit the United States, but look for a big push in the coming year, as customers already used to online banking buy faster, smarter cell phones and get accustomed to doing more data-intensive tasks on the go. Most banks, though, have a long way to go to provide … Continue reading 2007 Is Looking Like The Year Cell Phone Banking Gets Started – News by InformationWeek

I love Jims quote about the future of wireless banking.  Even though it was a much-hyped in the late 1990s, our answer when asked about it was, “fix your Web-based banking, add email alerts, and mobile will take care of itself. Source: NetBanker 2.0: Has mobile banking finally arrived? He goes on to make the point that wireless banking time has come.  The newer phones are more capable, it business cases by migrating calls from more expensive IVR/ VRU, and finally generational change brings a group used to phone browsers.  I would add that based on a review I did in … Continue reading NetBanker 2.0: Has mobile banking finally arrived?