The iPhone as money

Apple filed a rather fascinating patent application in December last year for a wireless communication system.

"A processing system is described that includes a wireless communication interface that wirelessly communicates with one or more wireless client devices in the vicinity of an establishment. The wireless communication interface receives a remote order corresponding to an item selected by at least one of the wireless client devices. A local server computer located in proximity to the establishment generates instructions for processing the remote order received from the wireless communication interface. The local server computer then passes the processing instructions to an order processing queue in preparation for processing of the remote order. "

The patent builds on an application developed by Apple with Starbucks, in which iPhone users in participating Starbucks stores can click an icon to find and buy the music being played while standing in line at the checkout.

Taking the idea a step further, iPhone users may ultimately be able to use their phone to remotely order - and pay for - a coffee from the nearest Starbucks (or any other wi-fi-enabled) establishment, with a couple of quick button presses.

Christopher Breen of Macworld looks at where the technology might eventually lead. The clue is in the headline:  The iPhone as money.