Ingenico Group compiles predictions being made by prominent mobile commerce players

With January coming to a close, predictions concerning how mobile payments will fare in 2016 are beginning to emerge. Ingenico Group, one of the world’s largest suppliers of mobile payments terminals, has aggregated the predictions coming from many of the groups most involved in mobile commerce. These predictions highlight the trends that are beginning to emerge in the mobile commerce space, which may go a long way in determining whether or not consumers will actually use their mobile devices to purchase products.

Mobile point-of-sale systems will be more common in the coming months

Creditcall, a payment service provider, predicts that mobile point-of-sale systems will become more common throughout the world. This is being driven by the number of credit card companies that are including new chips in their cards. Retailers are also driving the growing adoption of mobile point-of-sale systems, but they are also beginning to use mobile technology to process transactions made by consumers. More merchants are expected to begin using devices, like the iPad, to expedite the checkout process.

NFC technology is beginning to gain more support from retailers and other businesses

NFC technology is expected to see significant growth, in terms of adoption, this year. This technology allows for digital information to be transmitted over short distances. NFC has made up much of the mobile payments environment for several years and it is becoming more important for retailers to embrace this technology in order to effectively engage consumers. Retailers are also feeling increased pressure to embrace omni-channel strategies. Ingenico Group predicts that more retailers will adopt such strategies to provide better services and engagement to consumers.

Security remains one of the greatest challenges facing mobile payments

Security will likely be a prominent focus for those involved in mobile payments this year. Many consumers avoid mobile payments services because of concern that their financial information could be stolen and exploited. Organizations invested in mobile commerce are likely to make use of new technology to ensure consumer protection. An increased focus on security may ensure that consumers become more comfortable with the concept of mobile payments.

A massive return program has just been launched by the iPhone maker for AC adapters sold in many countries.

A tremendous Apple recall has now swept through a large handful of countries, initiating a return program for all the adapters it has sold for over a decade, many of which have gone back as far as 2003.

This return program has followed closely on the heels of a similar recall that was issued by Microsoft.

Recently, Microsoft had to issue a call back for many of its AC adapters for the Surface line of devices. The Apple recall, however, is notably bigger as it is for gadgets going back well over a decade which are meant for devices that have seen far greater sales. The affected adapters are those that have been constructed with swappable prongs. They are the mobile devices that can be removed from the user’s charger and are included with the purchase of many of the different iPhone, iPad, iPod and Mac devices.

This Apple recall will not affect the included chargers and adapters that were sold in the United States.

That said, it is quite a widespread recall of Apple adapters, as it will affect those sold in Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Brazil and Argentina. It will also impact the adapters that had been included in the world travel kit and that have been sold around the globe for many years. It is in those packages that the recalled Apple adapters are most likely to find their way into the hands of Americans.

The recall program page that has been created for this purpose has indicated that it is a voluntary return program. It also indicated that the issue in question is that “in very rare cases, affected Apple two-prong wall plug adapters may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched.”

For those with products that qualify for the Apple recall, an exchange of the old product for a new one that does not cause the risk of a rare shock. This exchange is free for the customer and can be done either online, by contacting the company’s customer support, or by heading over to an Apple Store where it can be done in person.