Apple’s CEO has placed the spotlight back on the ability to complete transactions with iOS devices.
Tim Cook, the chief executive at Apple, recently dropped some hints regarding a mobile payments strategy for the iPhone manufacturer, as well as for the use of the Touch ID feature that was recently added to their mobile devices.
Though this was clearly not an announcement, it was certainly a hint about things to come.
Cook linked the idea of mobile payments with the Touch ID system technology that is included in the latest smartphone releases from Apple. When he held a conference call with analysts, discussing the earnings of the company, he stated that this is sector “we’ve been intrigued with,” and added that “It was one of the thoughts behind Touch ID.”
The feature was unveiled as a security enhancement but could also provide mobile payments verification.
The TouchID until now has been meant for making it easy and convenient to unlock the iPhones without having to enter a password. That said, ever since it was first seen, there have been speculations made regarding its potential use for verifying an individual’s identity if the device is used for making a purchase.
That said, Apple has not yet given any other online merchants the opportunity to use the device for making verifications of purchases. It has also not provided access to the fingerprint scanner of Touch ID to third parties. Equally, it hasn’t provided third party access to the Secure Enclave verification computing resources from A7 for any other reasons.
During the conference call, Cook did say that there has been a positive response from the public to the existing form of Touch ID functionality. He expressed that Apple is seeing that people enjoy being able to use it for verification in order to make purchases from the iTunes store. He said that they have been watching people liking the opportunity to purchase content ranging from books to music and movies. His description of the purchases using Touch ID was “incredibly simple and easy and elegant.”
More specifically, he did go as far as to say that in terms of mobile payments, “It’s clear that there’s a lot of opportunity here.”
Poland is quickly becoming more focused on the mobile sector
The mobile commerce market of Poland is poised for strong growth throughout 2014, according to mGenerator, a leading mobile commerce platform in Poland. This is a trend that is similar to those that are emerging in other countries around the world. Consumers are becoming more involved in mobile technology and, as such, investing more of their time and money on their smartphones and tablets. This means that mobile commerce is beginning to play a much larger role in the lives of people around the world and their interest in mobile shopping and other such activities is growing quickly.
Mobile commerce market set to reach $273 million by the end of the year
According to mGenerator, the Polish mobile commerce market will reach approximately $273 million by the end of this year. Polish retailers are beginning to take the mobile sector more seriously as consumers begin using their mobile devices to shop and find products they are interested in. The demand for smartphones and tablets that are capable of participating in mobile commerce is also on the rise among consumers, which is adding further momentum to the market’s growing potential.
Retailers are growing more conscious of consumer trends
Consumers are showing particular interest in purchasing products that are available from retailers that are close to their home residence. These people are able to purchase products from their smartphones and tablets and then visit a local store to pick up these products. Retailers are also beginning to take “intelligent pricing” into consideration, which involves the better understanding how much consumers actually value a particular product. In order to acquire this understanding, retailers are beginning to track trends concerning the way mobile consumers spend their money online.
Banks are beginning to take the mobile space seriously
Retailers are not the only organizations in Poland that are beginning to take the mobile commerce market seriously. The country’s banks are also beginning to become more involved in the mobile sector by providing their customers with platforms and services that accommodate their needs. By the end of 2014, Poland is expected to establish itself as a very promising market in the mobile commerce sector.
