Digital wallets will save us!

When you leave your home or apartment in the morning, you might pack up a small bag of whatever you need for the day, which might change daily. But what doesn’t change is the three things you always have, and that’s your keys, mobile device and wallet. They are three essentials we can’t function without.

Fortunately, at least two out of the three are going away. Many locks for homes, businesses and doors are keyless, using a touchpad or buttons. And wallets as we know them are going digital, too. This means all we’ll be left with is our smartphone!

Through near field communications (NFC), smartphones can act as a virtual credit card that makes payments right at the cash register. NFC is much more secure than the traditional plastic cards with the magnetic strip, so the security of NFC is a huge benefit to preventing credit card fraud.

Isis is a mobile payment network comprised of the major mobile networks as a joint venture among the three biggest telecom operators in the United States (AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless) to provide consumers and merchants with an open and secure mobile commerce platform. Isis has chosen Gemalto to secure this platform though Gemalto’s Allynis trusted service manager (TSM).

Google is also in the digital wallet game too. No matter if you’re at home or on the go, you can send money to any friend in the U.S. with an email address. It's easy, fast and free to send directly from your bank account or Google Wallet. Store your loyalty programs in Google Wallet and leave the plastic cards behind, or redeem great offers with Google Wallet from your favorite businesses to save when you shop. For select NFC-enabled devices, you can tap and pay anywhere contactless payments are accepted. Choose to spend your Wallet balance, or add a credit or debit card to fund purchases.

In due time, consumers will be able to rid themselves of their wallets and consolidate all their cards into the mobile devices! I, for one, want this yesterday!