Another article about micropayments from MIT (kinda refutes the Shirky article from a few days ago).

I actually have a BitPass account and have used it on a couple of occasions. I really don't think it's a problem. In the situation to which Shirky was responding, where every page view costs a penny or a fraction of a penny, i can completely see his argument.

But in my experience, it's a trivial thing... theres a link that says, "buy the full size version of this digital photo for a dime" or "buy access to this comic strip for 25 cents", and if you think it's worth it, you click thru, with only a one page interference to actually make the transaction. If you think the comic isn't worth a quarter, then don't pay. I disagree with the mental transaction cost argument anymore -- the system is pretty clean and simple.