Ericsson Partners with Retailer to Test Bluetooth E-Payment

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NEWS
Issue #2001 - 01 (Jan. 2001)
(Updated on Jan. 3, 2001)

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & APPLICATIONS

Ericsson Partners with Retailer to Test Bluetooth E-Payment

In an effort to make shopping a convenient and stress-free experience, Ericsson has partnered with Scandinavian retailer ICA Ahold to test e-payment services using Bluetoooth wireless technology in retail stores.

The Trial

An ICA store in Täby, outside of Stockholm, was equipped with Bluetooth coverage, using multiple Bluetooth access points and a Bluetooth networking server, which provided the connectivity to a cash register server and a payment processing system.
ICA’s customers equipped with WAP- and Bluetooth-enabled phones were able to pay for goods, check their accounts, and find out about current offerings.
Bluetooth was combined with GSM, WAP, and Web technologies.
The trial demonstrated that mobile devices as payment instruments can offer customers a faster and easier payment service than with cash or credit card.

"We envision that Bluetooth access will make it possible for people to shop in a way which is most convenient for them," commented Jan-Olof Jarnesjö, manager of IT infrastructure at ICA.

If Bluetooth technology is the answer to a stress-free shopping experience, personal devices supporting the technology will have to become readily available and widely adopted by consumers before we see retailers converting their stores into Bluetooth-compatible wireless environments.

For more information: www.ericsson.se/infocenter/news/ica.html

Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: Bluetooth for electronic payment is a good application. We like Ericsson testing this POS application. Current solutions are kind of expensive. Will Bluetooth solution be cheap - we think it will be because of relatively open standard and availability of common chipsets. However, it will take some time.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.

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