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Austin Will Be Test Market For Mobile Phone Payments

The three largest cellular carriers in the United States are going to pilot near-field mobile phone technology in Austin next year, according to a statement released yesterday. The review aggregator TopTenReviews.com posted the promotional video above, which offers a decent explanation of the technology.

In choosing Austin as its test market, the CEO of Isis - a joint venture among the three carriers - noted how our city's city's "culture of innovation, thriving business community and early adopters make it an ideal launch market for Isis." Last April, Isis announced it was also going to test the product in Salt Lake City.

But will anyone use the service? A recent online survey by Retrevo found that most iPhone and Android users either didn't know about the technology or didn't care about it.

Nathan Bernier is the transportation reporter at KUT. He covers the big projects that are reshaping how we get around Austin, like the I-35 overhaul, the airport's rapid growth and the multibillion-dollar transit expansion Project Connect. He also focuses on the daily changes that affect how we walk, bike and drive around the city. Got a tip? Email him at nbernier@kut.org. Follow him on X @KUTnathan.