Thursday, November 04, 2004
I don't really need a new mobile...
However, today's Slashdot brought my attention to the fact that the nice people at Sony have developed the FeliCa, a contactless IC card system. Basically, electronic wallet, ID, train ticket, credit card - the whole shebang, all in one. That on it's own isn't really enough to inspire much in me. Sure, it's nifty, but why should I care?
Very simple. In the form of their F900iC handset, DoCoMo have added this nifty little feature to their latest mobile phones. As someone who uses train passes several times a day, and someone who is frequently fishing into his wallet for cash/cards, the sheer utility of something like this is enough to make me take notice.
Naturally, the phone will come with a fatty-boombatty camera, internet capabilities and all the other bells and whistles that Japanese mobile phones have considered 'standard' for aeons. In fact, if it turns out these little babies can play the bilingual game, I just might find myself signing up. Even without the benefits of my mother tongue, they look mighty appealing. The phone even comes in 'Titan Black'. I don't know exactly what colour that is, but I bet it looks impressive.
Of course, the fact that my year-old, baby blue AU is still doing a perfectly serviceable job as a mobile communications device really begs the questions "Do I need this?" The answer, unsurprisingly, is a resounding 'Nope, definitely not.' But that, as well all know, does very little to reduce the allure of the latest and greatest... I plan on doing a little shopping on Saturday, should I pass a DoCoMo shop, I may find myself stopping in for a chat...
Very simple. In the form of their F900iC handset, DoCoMo have added this nifty little feature to their latest mobile phones. As someone who uses train passes several times a day, and someone who is frequently fishing into his wallet for cash/cards, the sheer utility of something like this is enough to make me take notice.
Naturally, the phone will come with a fatty-boombatty camera, internet capabilities and all the other bells and whistles that Japanese mobile phones have considered 'standard' for aeons. In fact, if it turns out these little babies can play the bilingual game, I just might find myself signing up. Even without the benefits of my mother tongue, they look mighty appealing. The phone even comes in 'Titan Black'. I don't know exactly what colour that is, but I bet it looks impressive.
Of course, the fact that my year-old, baby blue AU is still doing a perfectly serviceable job as a mobile communications device really begs the questions "Do I need this?" The answer, unsurprisingly, is a resounding 'Nope, definitely not.' But that, as well all know, does very little to reduce the allure of the latest and greatest... I plan on doing a little shopping on Saturday, should I pass a DoCoMo shop, I may find myself stopping in for a chat...
# posted by Nils @ 10:08 AM 
