There is no need for a self-respecting geek to wait for others to get their stuff together. These phones (e.g. Nokia 6131nfc and 6212) have an RFID reader AND writer as well as a programmable platform (Java MIDP) and cell connectivity in a single package.

So a shop owner could create his own loyalty card system (just read the Oyster card's ID and put it in a database) or make up a game of geotagging.

Why bother to wait for the payment stuff? It's cool as it is. :-)

Yeah, I'm biased, having worked in the area for quite a while. But there's no need to wait - just get the phones and hack away :-)

Nokia 6131nfc and Nokia 6212 already contain the necessary hardware. Both are on market, the former has been around for over a year. They are not carried by any US operators, but they are available in some European countries, like Austria.

Check out http://europe.nokia.com/A41197323?&loc=use_nfc or search Youtube for "Near Field Communications".

Oyster phones (=the Nokia phone with an Oyster card on board) also exist in the UK, but still in pilot usage.