by Sriram Vadlamani 
Don’t we all love to be in a world where everything is dynamic? Aren’t we all sick and tired of carrying credit cards, debit cards and cash in our wallet? Don’t we all dream of a day where every transaction is done by a common platform with a single device? The wait I think is getting shorter by the day – Thanks to the entrepreneurial startups like Oxigen, Obopay, Easy Bill and Suvidha.
In a move towards cash less transactions, electronic payment enabler companies are introducing the kirana shop around the corner to be a e-retailer. Dubbed as e-Wallet this new facility will provide cash less way of paying all your bills. The common denominator is your cell phone. The e-Wallet works with your mobile phone to pay your bills. Though no clear information is there, I am guessing the mobile number is tied up with your bank account and you make a purchase by showing your mobile. This is pending RBI guidelines to be implement. The service will be rolled to Mumbai and Chennai to start with.
September 27, 2008 Continue Reading → by Sriram Vadlamani 
This story has caught my attention. IMIMobile (Hyderabad based) is collaborating with BPL Mobile to help Mumbai Police track drunk drivers. This would help in tracking the mobile database and check and see if the person is a repeat drunk driver or a fresh one. This would help them in recording new offenders and not letting the older ones slip.
India is suffering to come up with a comprehensive single point entry for identity. There are way too many things that serve as identity. There is nothing like a social security number though there are plans to introduce one. Drivers license, PAN card, Voters ID, Passport all serve as ID cards except that there is no way of tracking anything.
This new system which is being piloted in Mumbai might be the solution. This system is fraught with issues like any other system but this could solve many potential issues especially with tracking. The system makes an assumption that those who are driving can afford a cell phone. Conventional wisdom says that it is true. I am guessing that the number of mobile phones in India surpass that of PAN cards and voter Id’s. May be that is little far fetched but it could be true.
September 22, 2008 Continue Reading → 
