"cell phones" news and stories

We've already psoted about American cell phone companies offering a service to their customers that allows them to communicate with a diet advisor via their cell phones, and now, there is a rising concern in Japan about expanding waistlines, so they're doing the same thing.

People who participate in the program send photos to a diet and nutrition expert via their cell phone cameras. The experts analyze their dietary intake and send results back to the participants within three days, along with advice.

Like I said before in the post about Sprint's service, this seems a "little too late." Getting information after you've already eaten a 10,000 calorie burger with a side of super size fries that you probably shouldn't have done that seems futile. Wouldn't it be better if you sent a picture of your rare steak dripping with blue cheese butter and have an instant text message reply that says "No!"

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The prices at fast food chains are fairly low and, since most people want to make transactions there as fast as possible, cash is probably the most popular mode of payment for the average consumer. In pursuit of even faster service, one of the largest mobile phone operators in Japan, NTT DoCoMo, has teamed up with McDonalds to provide a service where customers can pay for their food with their mobile phones. The phones are equipped with technology that allows them to be swiped over a special handset at the store, where electronic payment information will be recorded and you can waltz out with your food in a matter of seconds. The technoogy, which has been available from DoCoMo under the name "Osaifu-Keitai e-wallet" in the past, will be funded with $2.48 million and, once a core membership has formed around using it, McDonalds plans to offer "enhanced services to strengthen customer loyalty."

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I am still getting used to my cell phone. In fact, I don't think I quite know how to view picture messages, though I'm sure that I do have a picture and video phone.

So all this new cell phone technology is pretty crazy to me, and it seems like much of it has to do with watching what you eat. Sprint has MyFoodPhone, a service that allows dieters to use their cameraphones to photograph meals and snacks before they eat, then instantly upload the pictures to an online account. Every two weeks a "nutritional advisor" checks the account and delivers feedback via the Web about portion sizes, nutritional content and general eating habits in the form of a video clip or notes.

It's kind of like your nagging significant other calling you to check where you are and what you're eating. "You're at Fatburger eating a Double Kingburger with fries?!?! Get home this instant and eat a salad!!" Something like that.