While mobile payment and product search technologies have been discussed for years, two new trials were recently announced that could help bring the technologies into the mainstream. Cellular South in Jackson, MI, and USA Technologies in Malvern, PA, announced a two-city consumer trial of WirelessWallet, a service that will let consumers make purchases and payments from a cell phone. The trial involves 75 customers who will test the concept at 50 retail locations in Memphis and Jackson. Following completion of the trial, a rollout is scheduled for early 2008. Meanwhile, Sprint Nextel and New York-based GPShopper LLC last week announced Slifter, a product search application that relies on GPS technology to help consumers find products. With Slifter, users can enter a keyword, product name, model number or UPC code to find a product, and they can then view its availability, price and promotional information.

For more on mobile payments:
- see this ComputerWorld article