The software giant has joined forces with a company called Sirit to give cellphones the power to transfer important information over short distances. The technology is called near-field communication, or NFC.
Sirit has cited numbers that predict the proliferation of this technology in the near future, saying that one-third of all cellphones will come equipped with it by 2012. Microsoft intends to add this new technology to Windows-powered phones.
Although this new technology is already in use in some public transportation and payment systems, web guru Brandon Shalton told XBIZ he doubted its utility in the adult industry.
"It only has one-foot distance, so you'd have to be standing at a machine like a kiosk or a vending machine," said Shalton, who founded the traffic analysis service T3Report.com.
Adult performer and talent manager Lisa Ann told XBIZ that one of the device's possible uses – as a quick payment device in a gentlemen's club – might not wash, either.
"Well, most clubs no longer permit phones due to cameras," she said. "And many girls don't want pics. And also other customers don't want pics of them in the clubs, so it becomes an issue."
Market research company the Pelorus Group has predicted that wireless payments using new technologies could account for more than $400 billion in transactions by 2011.
