New service has been put to trial in Toronto, Canada

PayPal has brought a new mobile payments service to Toronto, Canada. The company has been working to further establish its dominance in the mobile commerce field by providing businesses and consumers a way to connect to one another more effectively throughout mobile devices. In Canada, consumers are beginning to use their smartphones for much more than just communication. These people are beginning to shop for products and pay for services from their mobile devices more frequently, increasing the demand for comprehensive mobile commerce services.

Mobile payments now supported by 50 bars in Toronto area

PayPal has partnered with 50 bars in the Toronto area in order to make mobile payments possible among consumers. Those using the PayPal mobile application can make payments at these bars with their smartphones. PayPal has launched similar services in the U.S., Australia, and the United Kingdom and has received strong support from consumers in those countries. The application also has a unique approach on the matter of security.

PayPal app takes a unique approach to mobile commerce security

In order to place an order at a participating bar in Toronto, users of the PayPal app must “check-in” using the app’s location-based features. After doing so, consumers can place orders for food. In order to pay for the order, the application will require that the user takes a picture of themselves. This picture will be made available to staff as a form of authentication. The application can also be used to find nearby stores that also accept PayPal mobile payments.

PayPal focuses on restaurants for trial of new mobile services

The launch of PayPal’s service in Toronto represents a sort of trial. The company is testing the enthusiasm that Canadian consumers have when it comes to mobile commerce. If the company’s service receives strong support, it will likely make the service more widely available throughout the country. PayPal often chooses restaurants for these sorts of trials because they are places where consumers expect quick and convenient service. If PayPal’s services do well in that sort of environment, they are likely to perform well in retail environments as well.

New billboards and signs featuring quick response codes will be placed in locations worldwide.

Clear Channel, a company that currently has nearly 700,000 signs and billboards positioned in different spots around the globe is planning to add 75,000 QR codes to advertisements in areas that feature “heavy footfall and long dwell-time”.

This means that places such as bus stops, shopping malls, and airports will now see quick response codes.

The QR codes on the billboards will also have added SMS capabilities that make it possible to text people who are close by or to use near field communication (NFC) technology for the contactless transmission of information to devices that are located in close proximity. This converts the posters into a form of mobile marketing with considerable potential.

The QR codes and other technology will help to better connect with consumers who are on the move.

According to Clear Channel, the initiative, which they have called Connect, “presents the opportunity to target consumers on-the-go, when they are receptive to messages and can be delighted by timely, relevant and tailored invitations to engage.” That statement was made by the company’s chief operating officer, Suzanne Grimes.

These types of distractions, such as being able to scan a QRcode, are typically welcome in areas such as airports where people are looking for something simple to do in order to kill time. It isn’t something that they would likely do if they were in a hurry and were just walking from one place to another, but when they are forced to wait around, they will be far more willing to amuse themselves with activities such as barcode scans.

That said, to become effective, the ad needs to find some way to become noticed in the first place. Before consumers are able to scan QR codes, then need to actually realize that they’re there. It is in this area that Clear Channel has managed to stand out, as it has employed other technologies to draw more attention to itself and to make sure that its posters aren’t seen as simply passive atmosphere. This way, they become interactive features.