JACKSON (AP) — You can listen to music, watch television, play video games and even make calls on wireless phones these days.

Cellular South is adding another task, trying out new technology that will let users make credit-card purchases and even buy candy bars out of a vending machine. The company touts the new two-city trial as the first of its kind.

‘‘We’re always looking for the next technological innovation that will actually make customers’ lives easier,’’ said Greg Latour, senior vice president of technology development. ‘‘There’s a lot of technology out there that exists that really some of it is just for the sake of having it. We feel this mobile commerce-type technology really does bring convenience into customers’ lives.’’

Nearly 50 businesses and 75 customers in Jackson, Miss., and Memphis, Tenn., will participate in the WirelessWallet trial. It is the first community-wide trial of the technology and the first by a regional wireless provider, officials said.

Latour said previous trials by other companies have been limited to single venues, such as sports stadiums, in one community.

The trial should be completed by August and the officials hope to offer the WirelessWallet for widespread use in early 2008.

In the trial Kyocera Wireless phones will be equipped with software that carries users’ credit card information. Pass the phone next to a special transmitter attached to a standard card processing machine and it downloads the credit information to complete the transaction.

Among the businesses participating in the trial are Back Yard Burgers, the Memphis Redbirds minor league baseball team and the Memphis Zoo.

‘‘Essentially with this technology, which is brand new, we feel we’re ahead of the game,’’ Latour said. ‘‘We feel that the mobile commerce base is going to be important in the wireless arena. We want to jump out there first with as many relevant mobile commerce applications as we can.’’

Cellular South is the nation’s largest privately held wireless provider and employs 900. The company has invested $500 million in infrastructure improvements across its home coverage area, which ranges from western Tennessee, south through Mississippi and east along the Alabama Gulf Coast to the Florida Panhandle.

Latour said the company is expanding quickly.

‘‘I would characterize us as being in a period of rapid growth,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s really exciting right now.’’



AP-CS-06-06-07 0102EDT