This week brings two stories of different applications of mobile phones from different parts of the world. One application of mobile technology is changing the way we shop and pay for our goods and services and the other can mean the difference between life and death.

In this week’s Canberra Times comes a story from Japan. Japanese office worker Satoshi Tada pays for shopping, wins free food and receives ship discounts – all by waving his mobile phone.

“I use it pretty much every day,” the 25-year-old said. “You can charge money on it right there if needed, and you don’t have to run around trying to find an ATM. You can even get points because it’s linked to credit cards.”

Japan has pioneered mobile payments systems and came up with the business models that will pave the way for wallet phones to become a standard payment method in the future. About 700 million people worldwide are expected to own such phones by 2013.

Success in Japan and in trials abroad have shown the technology is ready for mobile phones to replace credit cards and cash, as well as serve as transportation and film tickets and electronic keys for homes and offices.

From mobile technology impacting on the hip pocket nerve comes another story this week with more life or death implications.

The Canberra Times reported on its front page that the combined efforts from six paramedics helped save the life of a Canberra man who was bitten by a brown snake.

Bushwalker Michael Lane was airlifted from a nature reserve south of Canberra after being bitten by the snake as he stopped for a mid-morning snack. The 27-year-old was only hours into a two-day solo trek when the snake struck without warning.

After being bitten on the left leg, Mr Lane was able to identify the reptile as a brown snake as it slithered away.

Mobile phone reception helped Mr Lane contact 000 to start the process of securing help. He was well prepared with a GPS and emergency beacon which helped guide paramedics and the South Care helicopter service to Mr Lane’s location. He was airlifted to Canberra hospital.