ATMs Will Figure In Prepaid Top-Ups

Techdirt Wireless often discusses ways mobile commerce interacts conventional business, but here's a look at how an older commerce system will support the mobile business. A report from TowerGroup says ATMs are logical commerce interfaces for topping-up the balances on pre-paid mobile accounts. Approaching the story from the banking/finance sector, the TowerGroup suggests that this is a great fit, and the beginning of a trend for ATM machines to offer additional commerce revenues beyond dispensing cash. Imagine purchasing Fandango.com movie tickets, or Starbuck's credits, or hey, topping up your Wayport WiFi account. The report predicts that 7% of mobile top-ups will be done over ATM by 2007 generating $124 M in revenues for the ATM sector.