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June 6, 2007
Dear CNET members,
Today when it comes to financial transactions, which range from paying bills to transferring funds, I do almost everything online if it is available. It was only seven or eight years ago that I thought this idea was crazy because I didn't trust anything online, but look at me now! Today in the United States a few financial institutions are taking one step beyond online banking, and that's mobile banking right from your cell phone. This new step of banking is very new to the U.S., but many other countries have adapted to mobile banking and it's become a hit! In the latest Security Watch column, Mobile banking, editor Robert Vamosi brings up many points ranging from early adopters' usage, and natural limitations such as screen size, to typing on a mobile phone and security risks.
Now the question to you is: would you do mobile banking if it was offered to you, or would you avoid it like the plague? Like many of you, I also fear the security risk, but that's what I initially feared with online banking, but eventually over time with the dramatic improvement with online security, I have adapted to online banking and never looked back again. Do you see the same case with mobile banking--where you eventually will trust this added convenience on your phone and adapt to using it? If so, how would you use it? I know many of our readers are from other countries where mobile banking is mainstream and used by the masses. If you are one of those folks, we would love for you to share with us your experience using this feature. Is it safe? What are all the pros and cons of using mobile banking? And for those who won't even consider this feature--tell us your fears and doubts about mobile banking. We are all ears, and I'm really interested in reading what you have to say.

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This week's hot topic:

Mobile banking
After reading the latest Security Watch column, Mobile banking, we asked if our members would do mobile banking if it was offered to them. Many of our members stopped by to post their two cents.
"It goes far beyond that"
"I'm writing from Turkey, Istanbul. Here Internet bank services are far advanced. Some banks use OTP keys but the new ultimate trend is mobile signature. Once you obtain a mobile signature, you can use the same service at any bank..." (Read more)
--Submitted by: CNET member mehmet
"Here is what I think..."
"Well, I think that this should be tackled from more then one direction. First, the cell phone makers need to realize that we need phones with more memory and more processor power then we have now, yet even today some manufacturers still put a..." (Read more)
--Submitted by: CNET member vbp1
"Look at Scandinavia"
"Funny to use a number of African countries as an example of mobile banking! Look at Scandinavia and Finland. Here banking over Internet and mobile banking has been very popular already during several years. Probably at least..." (Read more)
"Too many horror stories"
"NO WAY. I don't handle banking issues in public but I don't pay bills online either. Don't consider it safe enough--hear too many horror stories." (Read more)
--Submitted by: CNET member 1Nana
Speak up!
Now that you've read the latest Security Watch column, what do you think of mobile banking? Are you hip to the idea or do you have your doubts? Is it something you would use right now if it was available to you? Or is this something you wouldn't even consider. Maybe you're a person who is using this feature already--if so tell us all about it. Whatever your reason for or against it, join us and share your opinions on mobile banking.

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