AvantGo Survey Names Mobile Banking Top Wish for PDA Users

Almost two thirds of U.K. AvantGo PDA users would like mobile access to their online bank account, according to a new survey by AvantGo, a provider of mobile infrastructure software and services. The survey asked U.K. subscribers of the AvantGo mobile Internet service about how they currently use their PDA and the capabilities they would like to see added in the future. Over 5,000 people responded.

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Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: This survey seems to support the view that wireless banking may be a successful enterprise application. On the other hand, a couple of studies in USA have come to a different conclusion. We sit on the sideline and feel that no single medium - whether it is teller-based banking, ATMs, desktop-based Internet banking or wireless banking, will be the predominant channel. In fact, uptake of wireless banking will be slow and reserved for mobile-commerce and emergency transfers and bill-payment. In those countries and cities, where train ride is normal mode of travel between office and work, wireless banking may take off. However, in general, we can not rationalize the need for a majority of consumers to use wireless banking except in those cases where they are extremely mobile and do not get a few moments in front of an Internet desktop to put their financial household in order.. Finally, there is a difference between "would like to do wireless banking" and "actually doing wireless banking". Simple survey questions bring forth ambiguous answers.