Visa and Nokia are rolling out a credit card payment pilot system in Malaysia, which would enable consumers to shop and pay using their mobile phones.

 

This reminds me of some initiatives whereby wireless phones were being used to make purchases from vending machines back in the late 90’s.

 

The system is based on the Visa Wave smart card technology that uses radio frequencies to eliminate the need to swipe credit cards into a reader. Customers wave cards in front of the reader to make payments, much like the Mobil Speedpass that has become prevalent, at least here in the Northeastern U.S., for speeding gasoline purchases.

 

Although at today’s prices I’m inclined to stay at the pump as long as possible and get the most “experience for my money.”

 

During the four-month trial period, 200 Visa Wave cardholders in Malaysia will be given a specially designed Nokia phone that can be used to make payments in 2,500 outlets nationwide that have Visa Wave readers.

 

If the trial is successful, the phone could be made available for commercial use as early as next year.