This is just another example of how cash is cumbersome and costly.  MasterCard is dedicated to promoting the electronicification of payments to all corners of the world.  Prepaid cards are a simple, safe, and secure way to pay and a perfect solution for the change problem in Zimbabwe.  Prepaid gives consumers the flexibility to manage and budget their funds without the worry of carrying cash.

MasterCard is also providing access to funds via a mobile phone – like in Kenya where MasterCard, Airtel and Standard Chartered Bank launched a virtual prepaid wallet on a mobile phone providing consumers with a simple and safer way to shop.   To support all these services, MasterCard is working to open up new acceptance locations in emerging markets like Zimbabwe, both in physical locations and virtual ones.

In fact, just last month MasterCard and Kingdom Bank in Zimbabwe introduced a new suite of solutions including issuance of debit and prepaid cards as well as new acceptance locations. This will help open up the local economy and provide financial flexibility for Zimbabweans.

No change needed here! Now that’s priceless. What are your thoughts?  How can MasterCard make change?

As a reporter and stylist I’m always running around NYC- whether it’s trying to get to a shoot on time or desperately trying to make it to a boutique before closing time. It’s a fast paced city and having to stop to get cash out of an ATM or dig for money in my huge handbag slows me down and that’s never a good thing in my business.

On any given day I can take up to 15 cabs a day as I crisscross through the city.  My Google Wallet (with MasterCard PayPass) gave me the freedom to get out of the cab in a flash and kept me on time all day long.  Before this, I thought being able to swipe my credit card was the ultimate in ease, but now all you have to do it “tap and go”…talk about convenience.

My Google Wallet also made shopping in some of my favorite stores a total breeze.  Since I’m constantly pulling clothes for photo and video shoots, I’m usually walking out of a store with armfuls of shopping bags and that makes having to stop at the register while I hand over my card, wait for my receipt and then have to sign it– a dreaded process when it comes to time.  Using my Google Wallet gets me in and out in just one step!

But the biggest difference for me was being able to get through a whole day cashless! I never know what the day has in store for me so knowing how much cash to have in my wallet was always a huge guessing game, now thanks to my Google Wallet I don’t even have to think about it!

Imagine living in the world’s third-largest city with a population of more than 20 million people. Now imagine living in one of its 16 boroughs where 130,000 of its inhabitants are served by only 12 health centers, 30% have completed primary school and the main economic activity is the production and sale of fruit and sauces.

This city — Mexico City — is the economic, industrial and cultural center of the country, yet within its limits lies the impoverished borough of Milpa Alta. More than 50% of its residents are women. Traditional financial services are out of their reach because they work in the informal sector. With 11,000 other people per health center to contend with, accessing it means precious time away from their businesses and lost income. They are also raising children so learning new skills is out of the question.

Despite these challenges, these women have a burning desire for a better life for themselves and their families. As a native Mexican and President and CEO of Pro Mujer, a Latin American women’s development organization, I am particularly proud to share how we are helping the women of Milpa Alta to break the cycle of poverty.

Today, we are opening our newest center there, thanks to the generous support of MasterCard. This marks our 44^th center in Mexico and our 177^th in Latin America. In our first year alone, we expect to provide 400 strong and hardworking women with easy and convenient access to financial services such as small loans, savings and insurance; business and empowerment training and preventive health education.

These services will be delivered in a “one-stop shopping” manner in a safe and supportive environment.  At Pro Mujer, we believe every woman has the potential to transform their lives and improve the lives of their families and communities..do you?

Dollar bills and pennies and dimes everywhere…And that FAT WALLET…

No thanks.

As I travel around the world for work and for fun, using my card is so much safer, simpler and more convenient. The only time I’ve had any trouble is when I encountered a group of eager young entrepreneurs (which I explain in the video below).

When MasterCard’s St. Louis campus went completely cashless in January, it really wasn’t an adjustment for me. Cash and I parted ways long ago.

Please take a look at my brief video story and feel free to share your own in the comments below.

We’re happy to tell you that MasterCard has certified this device for use with our PayPass network. Devices certified by MasterCard go through a rigorous testing process by a MasterCard accredited laboratory to ensure devices are functionally reliable, interoperable and secure. For a consumer, this means your Lumia 610 joins the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and other MasterCard certified devices in providing consumers with a fast and convenient alternative to cash at the point of sale for their everyday purchases at hundreds of thousands of PayPass merchant locations around the globe.

The Nokia Lumia 610 NFC is another terrific step for the NFC ecosystem!

Corporate travel and entertainment (T&E) expense accounts are a sizeable chunk of a company’s outgoings. Most people probably don’t realize how significant it actually is, and with travel budgets being carefully scrutinised in these tough economic times, travel managers are finding it extremely difficult to forecast next year’s budgets.

The research we’ve conducted around this—which can be seen in this White Paper —makes the case abundantly clear.

According to the JP Morgan 2011 Corporate Travel Card Benchmark Survey, detailed card management information gives travel managers accurate data about how much they spend with each T&E supplier, allowing them to negotiate better discounts for:

• frequent air fares (9.1% versus 5.9% without using the corporate card data),
• hotels (12.3% versus 9.5%) and
• car rental (14.5% versus 12.4%).

Payment card data can help forecast and accrue T&E budgets so that companies have a clear picture of their employee’s spend and can allocate resources accordingly.

We are living in data rich times, and the valuable role that information can play in managing budgets and improving the operations of business and government is hugely significant.

I’d encourage anyone who manages travel expense programs to share their thoughts and ideas on the best ways to improve efficiency. I look forward to hearing your insights.

That said, there are some stories circulating in the media that are calling security into question. MasterCard takes security very seriously and fundamental to the technology behind PayPass are the built-in safeguards that ensure cards cannot be easily compromised.  For example:

• During the transaction process, there are encrypted, dynamically created security codes that must be validated by the card acceptance device or by the issuer of the card in real-time.  This helps ensure that only transactions from valid cards are approved; and

• MasterCard does not allow card issuers to encode cardholder name on the PayPass chip on the card – so no worries about your name being captured.

There are also numerous required and recommended security features to help identify and block fraudulent transactions:

• Visible card features such as the hologram and three digit code (CVC2) on the signature panel of the card; and

• MasterCard SecureCode, which provides online retailers and issuers an additional layer of cardholder authentication.

As you can see from other MasterCard blog postings by Oliver Manahan and Randy Vanderhoof, there have been demonstrations where the card number and expiration date have been scanned by a card reader without the knowledge of the cardholder.  These controlled experiments have not materialized in the real world as a fraud threat.

However, these demonstrations do underscore the need for retailers and card issuers to be vigilant in adopting available risk management techniques, which when used in combination, dramatically decrease the possibility of fraud occurring.  Cardholders play a role too as they should be discreet when entering the PIN code, and report missing cards and unauthorized transactions to the card issuer as soon as this is discovered.

Cardholders can rest assured that MasterCard also values speed, convenience and safety.  Today, PayPass cards and devices can be used at approximately 425,000 retail locations in 37 countries around the world including 20+ European countries. We continue to invest significantly in PayPass and work very closely with card issuers and retailers to maintain security at the highest levels.

If you have any questions, drop them in the comment box and we’ll be happy to address.

This week alone there have been several news stories about this idea of a cashless society featured in prominent media such as the Financial Times, Washington Post, and CBS Sunday Morning.

As I start to think about how a cashless world would impact my own life, I take a quick peek into my wallet which reveals a whole host of plastic, oodles of receipts, a few measly dollar bills and a hunk of loose change. Could I really minimize this mess I lug around with me and simplify the way I pay for things? Should I be putting my kids’ allowance on a prepaid debit card instead of scrounging up dollar bills each week? Could I pay the guitar teacher with a prepaid debit card?

There are many opinions about the merits and challenges associated with going cashless and the press coverage and dialog (see comments within these articles) is really heating up. So in the interest of sharing and allowing you to weigh in on what going cashless would mean to your lifestyle, below are some of the latest stories and blog posts about the possibility of a cashless society.

Think about this: Could you go cashless?

Try it or just tell us how you think it would change your lifestyle for better or worse.

The End of Money

http://gizmodo.com/5882836/lets-kill-cash-qa-with-author-david-wolman-on-our-moneyless-future

The Cashless Life

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/cashless_society/2012/02/the_cashless_society_one_man_s_quest_to_survive_without_bills_or_coins_.html

Why Cash is Losing its Currency

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7403142n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

More Flash Than Cash (FT registration required)

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/63a21dcc-6f68-11e1-9c57-00144feab49a.html#axzz1qKhqnUwR

Treasury to Cut Costs by Remaking Coins, Replacing Paper

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2012/03/28/treasury-to-cut-costs-by-remaking-coins-replacing-paper/?mod=wsj_share_twitter

Don’t Show Me The Money

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/dont-show-me-the-money-why-eliminating-cash-may-be-the-secret-to-prosperity/2010/12/20/gIQAOkT1bS_blog.html

For a business like StubHub, trust is paramount.  Our reputation is built on the trust our fans place in us to provide a safe, convenient place to get tickets to the games, concerts and theater shows they want to see, and any easy way to sell their tickets when they can’t go.

We’ve been doing it since 2000, and we continue to lead the way today – making sure fans have a truly open and vibrant marketplace where they can buy or sell tickets without restrictions or limitations.

The task of maintaining this open, trusted marketplace rests squarely on our shoulders, and my trust and safety organization works tirelessly to combat the growing sophistication and challenge of online fraudsters. By understanding how people typically use our site, we identify trends that are out-of-pattern and suspicious. This enables us to hone in on emerging fraud techniques early, denying fraudsters access to our open marketplace, and protecting our fans.

This week’s Merchant Risk Council Conference in Las Vegas provides a terrific forum for sharing ideas and innovations for how we can collectively address the growing challenge of eCommerce fraud.

As online threats continue to morph and intensity, we all need to rethink our strategies for combating them. That’s why I was so interested to learn about MasterCard’s new relationship with Silver Tail Systems, who is an important ally in our own fight against online fraud. Matching Silver Tail’s cutting-edge technology with MasterCard’s industry-leading financial know-how is sure to lead to safer eCommerce transactions for consumers and merchants.

Anytime we can raise the stakes against online fraud, it’s music to my ears. Collaboration like this makes it easier for our fans to shop on StubHub with a single question in mind: “Where do we want to sit”?

I established Het Vlaamsch Broodhuys, which translates to The Flemish Bakery, back in 1996, after having worked many years as a chef in top restaurants in Paris and Brussels. After working many hours in many kitchens, I decided to return back to my passion: baking bread.

I started out baking twenty loaves of bread, which I delivered for free to a variety of businesses to try. By the end of the day I had 16 customers. My business was born and I have never looked back since.

Since opening my first bakery in Rotterdam, we have opened 7 bakeries and 11 stores within a store in the Netherlands. I opted for a cashless formula because it seemed a safe, fast and hygienic way to accept payments from clients. Customers do not have to wait for their change, my staff does not have to handle money and bread at the same time, and my employees do not need to make bank deposits at the end of the day.

Of course we had to convince some customers, but they only accounted for a small group. Now that they understand the benefit of cashless transactions they pay just as easily with a debit card!

In the last years the way we buy and pay every day has evolved, from e-commerce, to mobile and contactless payments, but surprisingly, a service that has proved to make our lives easier is still limitedly implemented.

For example, did you know:

• If electronic payments replaced cash, the GDP would grow by 3% and employment would increase by 2%*.
• Those figures applied to the Spanish economy represent an 8 billion euros GDP increase and more than 100,000 jobs and without the necessity of reducing the benefits for consumers or increase taxes!

These are significant figures when the confidence in the Spanish economy is at stake and unemployment is now over 22% of the Spanish population.

A way of improvement can be the reduction of cash. Again, did you know:

• The use of cash implies a number of costs in transportation, handling, safety and even health that are quantified as a 3% average cost vs. 1,2% of a debit card transaction.
• Electronic commerce or cards, on the other hand, which is approximately two billion euros per year in Europe, has provided a net saving of 14,380 million euros.

That’s why I really believe that it is urgent to open the floor to a debate about a world beyond cash. Here’s a short video (in Spanish) that brings to life exactly what I am talking about.  Take a look and join in our cashless conversation!

*Source: Cambre Asociados

You already know it can connect you to a wealth of information through the web. Soon, you’ll tap that smart phone to pay for goods online, at checkout, redeem coupons, receive promos and track loyalty programs.

It’s no wonder, then, that a lot of companies are staking claim to this space. At MasterCard, we’ve been taking steps to be the leader in this arena.

We’re not only at the forefront of the latest technology. We’ve also spent 45 years building the infrastructure and consumer insights to support it. Last year, we processed 27.3 billion electronic payments totaling $3.2 trillion with an average response time of 130 milliseconds, the fastest in the industry.

We’ve been adding technologies, including PayPass, to lead the way on NFC, mobile and e-commerce. We’re working with Google and Intel on new products and extending our global reach through partnerships with Turkcell, airtel Africa and Telefónica.

No matter what the technology is or where it’s delivered, a few principles underpin everything we do. It’s all about giving people secure, convenient and smart ways to pay.

So whether you’re a merchant or consumer, let us know how we can make your life easier. We’re always looking for new ways to leverage our technology and experience.

The vast majority of commuters we surveyed think so.  In fact, 72% of respondents in U.S., 85% in Singapore and 86% in South Korea told us they wish there was one card for use across all local mass transit systems. They also estimated that with one payment card they could save close to one hour (55 minutes!) per work week. Well, the capability already exists in MasterCard PayPass and for many, it’s already in your wallet.

The Harris poll we just completed confirms that among 2670 adults in the U.S., South Korea and Singapore, the simple act of paying for your trip can be a great source of frustration. In fact,

• 44% of U.S. mass transit riders* have missed a departing bus, train or subway waiting to buy or add money to fare cards (compared to 37% in Singapore and 25% in South Korea)
• 42% of riders in Singapore have been in a situation where they needed exact change to ride mass transit, but didn’t have it (compared to 34% in the U.S. and 18% in South Korea)
• 44% of South Korean riders say that having to make sure they have cash on hand is one of the most frustrating parts of their commute. In Singapore, 43% of commuters say misplacing their fare card and having to replace it is one of the most frustrating aspects of the ride (compared to 26% in the U.S.)

At MasterCard we are working with many transit authorities around the world to help make that ONE card for transit fare payment a reality

What about you, would you get on board with one card for every stop?

*Riders from seven cities were surveyed.

In fact, it was the first mobile contactless MasterCard PayPass™ payments program in Qatar via an NFC-enabled mobile phone and the first program to also offer consumers  a contactless PayPass ‘ payment tag’ in the Middle East and Africa.

The mobile subscription rate in Qatar currently stands at 142 percent, and the market is expected to see 3.7 million mobile subscriber connections in 2015, this is particularly impressive when you keep in mind that the total population of the country is just over 1.7 million.  The roll-out of an NFC program in Qatar was therefore timely, especially with industry leaders who share our vision of how mobile payments fit into the lives of the young and evolving consumer demographic.

This payment solution, I believe, will reshape the life of cardholders and mobile users in Qatar. And as we continue to move into a world beyond plastic, where consumers will shop and pay in a way that best fits their needs and lifestyles with a simple tap, click or touch in-store, online or on a mobile device, we are going to be there to support their needs.

Solutions such as the QNB Qtel MasterCard and Oberthur Mobile NFC program, allows us to provide a new consumer and merchant experience, while enhancing the value of electronic payments. We look forward to playing a key role in transforming the evolution of the payments landscape in Qatar.

When you stop and look at the statistics, it shouldn’t be that surprising.  There are more than 300 million mobile phone subscribers in the United States and nearly all of their phones (97 percent) are text-enabled.  If you add it up, 75 billion texts are sent each month in the U.S., with an of average 95 percent of those texts being opened and read within 5 minutes of receipt.*

At MasterCard, we recognize the power of the mobile phone in enabling safe, simple and smart payments.  In some markets, like the U.S. and U.K., we’re working with partners to launch mobile wallets to allow consumers to pay with a simple tap of their NFC-enabled device.  In developing regions, our Mobile Money Partnership Program is helping people purchase goods and services with their mobile phones at millions of brick and mortar and online merchants worldwide, as well as transfer funds and pay bills.

We also believe the mobile phone can be used as a tool to empower people and help them secure their financial futures. This week at Prepaid Expo, attendees will receive a sneak peak of a new financial education program designed to help several groups of consumers – including the underserved – better understand the tools and options available to them.  What’s great about this program is that it combines our corporate focus on driving innovative solutions with a long-term commitment to financial literacy to help ensure that individuals have access to opportunities to achieve financial independence and realize their potential.

Keep an eye on this space for more information about the program over the coming weeks.  When you think about it, small changes can make a big difference.  And, sometimes knowing just a little more, can truly help you in the long run.

* Sources:  Pew Research Center 2010; CTIA Semi Annual Survey 2010; Shedd Aquarium 2009; Brightkite Mobile Advertising Report 2009; Nielsen

As the official party planner/cruise director in my group, I’m always putting together team celebrations, which frequently involves collecting money for showers, promotions and the like. Rather than collecting cash, I have started using MasterCard MoneySend, a person-to-person money transfer service. People usually don’t carry much cash in their wallets, so it saves them a trip to the ATM, and it saves me a trip to track someone down.

I’ve also challenged myself outside of work to get by on as little cash as possible.

Take a look at this short video about my cashless journey. I hope you feel inspired to do the same.

This week, we’re at the 7th Annual Prepaid Expo in Las Vegas and are looking forward to sharing our insights about this dynamic space, and demonstrating how the latest prepaid solutions are bringing us one step closer to a cashless society.

If you’re at the show, stop by an expert series session in our booth, or come learn about what Partners in Prepaid is doing.  If you aren’t making the trip, watch for news and updates live from the event by following @MasterCardNews and #PPExpo, the official Prepaid Expo 2012 hashtag.

The Prepaid Expo agenda has more details, but here’s a preview of what we’ll add our perspective on:

• March 12 at 8:30 a.m. PT – Taking Your Prepaid Business into Europe
• March 13 at 2:45 p.m. PT – The Fate of Payroll Cards: Restrictions and Regulations Across the US
• March 13 at 2:45 p.m. PT – Realities of GPR in LatAm
• March 14 at 9 a.m. PT – Prepaid in the Future: The Consumers, the Products, the Technology
  5, 10 and 15 Years Ahead
• March 14 at 11:15 a.m. PT – Uncovering Mobile Payments Opportunities in Developed and Developing Markets

Here’s some more on MasterCard’s recent prepaid news and leadership:

• Prepaid: A New Route to Financial Inclusion
• U.S. Treasury Saves with Cashless Program
• Prepaid Getting a Lot of Unfair Heat: Let’s Discuss
• Expert Approval for Financial Control
• BOKU Expands Mobile Payments Offering with MasterCard Prepaid and PayPass
• MasterCard Launches Partnership Program to Enhance Mobile Money Services for Underbanked Consumers in Developing Markets

This week’s CARTES North America conference is the latest in a series of conferences and events that provide us an opportunity to share how our technology and partnershipsare helping bring this vision to life by enhancing the experience whenever, wherever and however an electronic payment is made. I hope you’ll join us!

Want to see what we’re up to? See us speak at CARTES:

• March 5 at 9 a.m. PT: NFC & Mobile Payments – The Next Steps?
• March 5 at 11:30 a.m. PT: Commercial Launch of Mobile Payments Using NFC-Enables Phones  
• March 5 at 2:50 p.m. PT: The Outlook for EMV Adoption in the USA
• March 7 at 10:30 a.m. PT: Building a Bridge to Financial Inclusion with Prepaid

 Also, check out our recent news and other background on mobile:

• MasterCard Mobile Money Timeline
• MasterCard Introduces U.S. Roadmap to Enable Next Generation of Electronic Payments
• MasterCard and Telefonica’s Joint Venture Unveils Brand Name
• BOKU Expands Mobile Payments Offering with MasterCard Prepaid and PayPass
• MasterCard Launches Partnership Program to Enhance Mobile Money Services for Underbanked Consumers in Developing Markets

If you’re onsite or want to follow the action, follow us on Twitter (@MasterCardNews) and watch for the #CartesNA hashtag.

I’m going to focus on convergence, although the cava was excellent.  I’m talking about the convergence between the offline and online worlds. What does that mean for MasterCard? People want to pay for items with a simple, click, tap or touch on any internet connected device, similar to a brick and mortar store. They don’t want to fill out a billing address, shipping address, credit card number, CVC (a number that often baffles people), which, by the way, is nearly impossible on a smart phone.

MasterCard is working with a number of partners to make the online shopping experience both simple and smart.  At the Mobile World Congress, I caught up with George Thangadurai  at Intel who gave a quick overview of how, together, we are revolutionizing the online shopping experience in the brave new world of mobility.

MasterCard, Etisalat and Oberthur won the Mobile Money Innovation category at this week’s GSMA World Congress in Barcelona.  The Global Mobile Awards are basically the Oscars of the mobile industry. It’s a big deal for us, our partners and, most importantly, the end consumer.

Awards aside, our partnership with Etisalat and Oberthur Technologies gives people in the UAE a new, convenient way to pay. Etisalat customers can now securely check out with the simple tap of their smartphone at any merchant with MasterCard PayPass. It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s safe. And it’s the future of payments — not just in the UAE but around the world.

We thank Etisalat and Oberthur for working with us and seeing the future of commerce. We couldn’t have done it without them.

This year’s award also marks back-to-back wins for MasterCard and our partners. Last year,  we teamed up with Airtel Africa and Standard Chartered Bank to win Best Mobile Money Product or Solution for the world’s first virtual card on a mobile phone, opening up new options for people who have limited or no access to traditional banking.

It’s a testament to our employees and global partners to be back in the winner’s circle again this year.

The convenience of mobile money hit home for me during a morning walk down La Rambla in Barcelona today. In a city where businesses open a little later, I passed the following money transfer shop.

Locked shut. At 9:15am. In a major cosmopolitan area where I can order cava with my breakfast (not that I would) or buy gelato at midnight (which I did), I could not transfer funds to someone that may be in need, or receive them, before the shop owner was ready to start his/her day. What if my need was more pressing? Or, what if I lived in a remote location and was without ready access to such a shop? Mobile money helps to solve this and many other issues people around the world face in making purchases.

But current mobile money stored value accounts offer consumers basic services such as mobile top-up, bill payments and person-to-person payments. There’s a much bigger mainstream financial world that people need access to, which is why MasterCard recently launched its Mobile Money Partnership Program , enabling consumers to purchase goods and services via their mobile phones at millions of brick and mortar and online merchants worldwide, as well as transfer funds and pay bills.

With over five billion mobile phone users worldwide, this program provides powerful options to people through a device that’s already in the palm of their hands today. It helps ensure consumers can transact where and when they choose. Along with our initial program partners Comviva, Sybase and Utiba, we’re redefining mobile money to reach the next billion consumers.

Based on the activity within the Mobile Money Pavilion and the conference tracks dedicated to the topic this week, we’re not alone in understanding its value and importance.  What about you, what are your thoughts around mobile money?

Now, through our new partnership, we’re helping BOKU “install an upgrade.” People who sign up for a BOKU Account can get a mobile and online account powered by MasterCard Prepaid.

The account, which still works through a mobile phone provider, opens up all sorts of options. People can make payments, receive discounts and monitor spending—all on their mobile phone anywhere MasterCard is accepted – and that’s millions of locations worldwide.

Here’s how it works. Once you subscribe, you can get targeted offers through SMS, email, push notifications and mobile apps.  These offers can be redeemed through a PayPass smartphone app, PayPass sticker or companion card at any MasterCard merchant.  Just tap your phone, swipe your card or click on the app and you’re all set to pay and save.

BOKU Accounts is global and available today.  Here’s a great write up from Fast Company that puts it all in perspective. You can also check out this quick video for my thoughts on our partnership with BOKU.

If you sign up and use BOKU Account, let us know what you think – we’d love to hear from you!

In my video interview, I talk about the benefits of electronic commerce – did you know you can receive your refund up to six weeks faster if you get it electronically, instead of by paper check? I also offer some tips for making it a little easier to do your taxes this year:

Elaine Smith is a guest blogger and an enrolled Agent and Master Tax Advisor for H&R Block.

Here is an overview of some our activities at Mobile World Congress 2012:

• Overview of our media/analyst event with our partners
• Mobile Payments Backgrounder
• MWC Announcements
  • MasterCard and Telefonica’s Joint Venture Unveils Brand Name
  • BOKU Expands Mobile Payments Offering with MasterCard Prepaid and PayPass
  • MasterCard Launches Partnership Program to Enhance Mobile Money Services for Underbanked Consumers in Developing Markets
• See MasterCard speak at Mobile World Congress:
  • February 28 at 12:30 p.m. (CET): NFC: Advancing the Ecosystem
  • February 28 at 2:30 p.m. (CET): When Mobile Goes Shopping (Invite Only)
  • February 28 at 4 p.m. (CET): Mobilizing the Retail Business
  • February 29 at 1:45 p.m. (CET): Consumer Devices: Riding the Next Wave of Smart Devices
  • February 29 at 3:30 p.m. (CET): Mobile Loco

In his book, Wolman reminisces about his childhood corner store where there was a game set up, you threw pennies (you know those ”copper” coins you may find in the junk draw of your kitchen) at a bell, and if you hit it, you’d get a free piece of Bazooka – pretty cool right?  Now for every kid, this is definitely fun with money, and got me thinking, what do we do with our spare change?

Well for me, and I’m one of those “cash-less” folks, so not even sure how I have any these days, but when I take the family to Stew’s…Stew Leonard’s that is, I have to make a conscious effort to make sure I grab a handful of change from the old water cooler jug (where else do you put it?), because my boys need it for the fountain pool, where they throw change at a bird to make it sing. So there’s one use.

Then, as I was putting my son to bed last night I noticed a new game he got for his birthday – get ready for this – it’s called “CoinStruction”, the fun way to make your money grow.  And yes what caught my eye was the description: “Use colorful plastic clips and your spare change to build an engineering marvel.” So this makes, two uses.

Indeed times have changed, but fear not, as while we may not use change very often to make purchases, it’s finding new and creative ways to carry on, and perhaps even inspiring little engineering minds.  But hmmm, does this outweigh the fact that coins cost more to mint than face value.. 

Well, those are my reasons to keep change around, what are yours?