NFC-equipped phone surfaces at FCC... with Citi logo

We've handled handsets with unorthodox keypads before, but there's quite a bit more about this here device that's off-kilter than just a unique method of input. Discovered in the always unpredictable database of the FCC, the Mobicom-built mobile plays on the 850 / 1900 GSM bands and features a built-in MP3 player, file manager, speakerphone and accelerometer -- you know, for accessing icons by simply tilting the phone. The most astounding inclusion, however, isn't the integrated NFC technology that allows users to make payments on the go, but rather the unmistakable logo of a financial services company. Sitting front and center. On a cellphone. Something tells us this thing better print greenbacks if it hopes to seriously lure any suits away from their precious BlackBerrys.

[Via PhoneScoop]

[PEZ Posted Mar 20th 2008 6:45AM]

Its a slicer with big ass buttons for old people and you.

[slamEVIL Posted Mar 20th 2008 2:57PM]

here's what i think: you'll probably receive this when you open a certain account with citi. and it will have all the shortcuts pre-installed so you can do your banking on the go and listen to music and what-not. but you won't be able to use it for anything else (phone, data)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 24th 2008 10:17AM]

The NFC functionality is the story. Citi is going to offer these things to customers to use as payment devices. They don't want Blackberry users, they are going after your average transit-riding, coffee-buying consumer.