My good friend Antoine RJ Wright asked if he could comment on my latest blog post about Apples Passbook app but I think what he has to say deserves it’s own post versus just being a comment. Antoine is an expert in mobile and has been a speaker many times the world over on all subjects in mobile, so when he has something to say about it I suggest reading it.

In an earlier article, Jeb pointed to Apple’s newly introduced Passbook as being a big deal for those looking forward to mobile wallet and mobile payment initiatives to take off in the USA (http://themobileperspective.com/2012/06/passbook-is-the-big-deal/). And yes, I do agree some that it will have some impact. But, given Apple’s focuses on reshaping behaviors/perceptions and IT in education, I think the bigger deal is what can happen when series of Apple owners with iOS 6-compatible devices take off with usage in this space.

First, with education markets. One can think of school IDs as a potential avenue for Passbook, but I am thinking a bit more like cards as achievement meters that students carry with them. Want to show competency in history, pull out Passbook and the school district issued history card and view/scan the badges that are there. Want to add or restrict access to a section of a building on the fly, change it in the admin, and the device connected to the school’s network gets the update along with the lock.

A wallet for more than financial transactions! Yup.

The second thing is that aspect of behavior and perceptions about how wallets should be used. Jeb and I use our wallets and cards similarly (we had coffee at Starbucks recently, so I am sure about this). The idea of using your mobile to pay for something isn’t a far off thought, but having the cost of something adjusted in real-time within that wallet (coupons, offers, etc.) is abnormal. Essentially getting people into that FedEx/UPS mindset, be at one with the logistics of the moment. That’s different, and causes people to shift how they shop, communicate, and congregate.

So yea, Passbook is a big deal. But I don’t think it’s as big to mobile commerce until its attached to the kids that have iPod Touch devices and people looking to save a few more bucks before they pull it off the shelf. That kind of passing is a book I think we all want to open in the near future.

To read more of Antoines work visit his blog AntoineRJWright.com.