Motorola is the first telecom-equipment maker to attempt to launch a large-scale mobile-wallet service in the U.S., The Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition. See Wall Street Journal story (subscription required).

Companies in Asia have already introduced cell phones that can do everything from buying groceries to purchasing movie tickets; in Tokyo, commuters can board trains by waving their phones over a sensor in turnstiles, The Journal reported.

U.S. operators are following companies in Europe and Asia in upgrading networks so they can handle more than just voice calls, The Journal said.

Before A U.S. service can be launched, Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola must reach a deal with a wireless carrier and must persuade retailer to participate, possibly requiring store equipment upgrades, The Journal said.

Motorola says it is in "advanced discussions" with several phone companies and also is talking to cell phone companies in Asia, Latin America and other regions about the service, The Journal said.

The "M Wallet" service would be downloadable from cell phone companies' Web sites and would work on a range of devices, including Palm Pilots and phones not made by Motorola, The Journal said.

The cost of the feature would be set by wireless carriers, the Journal said.

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