The idea that a mobile phone can be a payment method isn’t a new one, but Tyfone got us all one step closer thanks to a new patent issued that brings a measure of security into the game. The biggest obstacle to the concept is security (what if someone steals your phone) and some commonality more »

With smartphones becoming more and more popular these days, they are beginning to allow users to handle more and more tasks; some that we may not have thought of before. The latest development is coming in the form of mobile banking and it will soon mean that users will be able to deposit a check from anywhere using nothing other than a smartphone.

In this case, the bank in question is USAA, and they have announced plans to release an updated iPhone application that is going to allow customers to deposit their checks. The user will just have to take a picture of both sides of the check and then the deposit will be made electronically.

Mobile banking is slowly catching up as mobile carriers continue to integrate this technology in their system. Today, Verizon Wireless has announced that it is extending its mobile banking solutions to their customers who use a BlackBerry Curve 8330, BlackBerry Pearl 8130 or a BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone. Too bad I don’t own any more »