Patent US 5,221,838

An electronic wallet includes memory for storing at least a balance corresponding to an account in a financial institution, and a selective call receiver for receiving a wireless message transmitted from a remote transmitter, the wireless message including financial information relating to the balance for confirming a financial transaction with the financial institution. A controller, coupled to the memory and to the receiver, can update the balance in the memory in response to the wireless message. communication system enters financial transactions into the communication system from one of a plurality of associated portable data devices, and updates the financial transactions from the communication system to the one and to at least a second of the plurality of associated portable data devices via wireless message communication from at least one remote transmitter.