Dial-a-Boarding Pass?

First, the self-service ticket kiosks. Then, printing your boarding pass at home.

Next step: using your mobile phone as a boarding pass?

Some airlines are currently toying with the idea of letting people check in and board via their mobile. So long, paper ticket! Flash your fancy phone to get past security and gate agents, and zip off to your seat.

This seems a logical step: modern mobile are so much more than plain old telephones... They're full-blown, hand-held computers. I'm glad to see airlines tacking on to the mobile trend. -and while I'm usually a privacy-minded individual, I don't see the airlines getting any more information than normal out of this. If you're a seasoned traveler, chances are your primary airline already has your mobile phone number.

What are your thoughts? Do you see any exceptional benefits or drawbacks to this kind of system? or, like me, are you holding out for more technical details before making any decisions?

(Originally spotted on CNET News.)