Apple Passbook: Is it Ready for Prime Time?

Our wallets are approaching super-size like proportions. The average American cardholder has approximately four credit or debit cards, and the average household participates in more than 18 consumer rewards programs.

In response, there's been a flurry of digital innovations aimed at lightening your load. NFC was touted as the saving grace, but with a high cost of entry and a questionable convenience and value proposition factor, the technology needs a lot of work (and time) before it reaches mass adoption. The latest contender is Apple, who threw its hat into the ring with Passbook. Although it's approaching it from a better angle — Passbook is less intrusive, with no need for new hardware or a chip that drains your battery — the current incarnation falls short in the areas crucial for widespread adoption, namely ease of use for consumers and merchants.