[nmrm]

I think the OP's point is that the phone is never going to replace cash/cards because going without an mp3 player or notebook during a night out or work day is NBD, but surviving without any access to money can make things very unpleasant. Also, I'll always need a wallet for ID, insurance info, etc. What's one more piece of plastic?

So it makes sense I wouldn't want to carry around a phone + an mp3 player. But if I'm carrying around cash/cards everywhere anyways, the phone needs to have an actual substantive benefit over paying with plastic. That advantage has to overcome the perception of privacy violations and the cost of changing personal habits.

* The days of the average consumer not caring about privacy are, I think and hope, coming quickly to an end. I doubt anyone will give up gmail out of privacy concerns, but any time there's discussion of adopting a new consumer product, average Joe off the street will probably cite privacy as one concern. I don't think the "novelty factor" is enough to win over the average consumer's data these days.

[a3n]

> I doubt anyone will give up gmail out of privacy concerns

I did, years ago, for that very reason. I still have the account, but I never use it, and mail never goes there. Sometimes I use it for testing something, but I don't use it.

[blfr]

If you're very concerned then cash or physical card for redundancy may make sense. But that's also true of a map for example, yet doesn't hurt adoption of Google Maps.

And is paying for things really that crucial on a daily basis? I can only think of minor inconveniences like having to go home before getting groceries after work. Although that's probably a matter of lifestyle and location.

[IanCal]

Well, my card doesn't need a battery but works just like mobile payments (take out, press against reader, done) whereas google maps has many advantages over a paper map (i can find exactly where I am, search for things & get traffic updates).

[blfr]

Phone payment app can also feature improvements over a card, like knowing and showing your balance, helping you track spending, prompting you to use discount coupons... whatever the provider can come up with.

[marssaxman]

I can't say I gave up gmail out of privacy concerns, but privacy concerns motivated me not to sign up for it in the first place.