Tag: Android Pay

Google introduces yet another mobile payments service

| March 11, 2016

Google launches Hands Free service, making transactions more convenient

Google is working to take mobile payments to the next level. The company has launched a new hands-free, voice activated payment application, which is currently being tested in San Francisco, California. Called Hands Free, the service is meant to make mobile commerce more convenient than it already is. It could also give Google and edge in the mobile commerce battle if it can find favor among consumers that often use their mobile devices to shop for and purchase products online and in physical stores.

Hands Free uses an assortment of innovative technologies

Hands Free makes use of a combination of technologies, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and location tracking technology to allow the service to communicate with point-of-sale systems. When this is done, consumers can confirm purchases by saying the phrase “I’ll pay with Google.” Hands Free is a standalone service with no association with Android Pay apart from also being developed by Google. The company believes that the voice activation technology powering Hands Free can make mobile payments more convenient than it already is.

New service could be risky for consumers involved in the mobile commerce space

While Hands Free makes use of innovative technology, it may also suffer from certain security risks. Theoretically, the voice activation technology could be abused by those that want to take advantage of consumer financial information. In order to combat this, Google has equipped Hands Free with numerous security features. One of these features will ensure that cashiers can verify the identity of the person using Hands Free before a purchase is finalized.

Google continues to search for a foothold in the mobile commerce market

Google has been fighting an uphill battle in the mobile payments space. The company entered into the market mobile commerce market relatively early with its Google Wallet platform. The Wallet was somewhat unpopular among consumers, leading Google to change its mobile commerce plans. Now, the company has Android Play, which is has become its flagship payment service that is set to compete with those coming from other major technology companies.

Mobile payments are gaining momentum in the US and UK

| January 29, 2016

Report highlights the growing power of mobile payments

The popularity of mobile payments is growing in the United Kingdom and the United States. Citigroup and the Imperial College of London have released a new report shows that consumers in many countries are beginning to favor mobile payments when they shop digitally. This is particularly true in the U.S. and the UK, as more consumers are beginning to use their mobile devices to purchase products online. As such, they are becoming increasingly reliant on new payment services that allow them to make purchases online and in physical stores.

Consumer attitudes are affecting the adoption of new payment services

While more consumers have been opting to use their mobile devices to make payments, adoption of mobile commerce has been slow in 2015 overall. Consumer attitudes kept many people from making use of mobile payments services and these attitudes were swayed by security concerns. Many believe that their personal information is at risk when they use new payment platforms, which leads them to avoid mobile payments altogether. the report also suggests that there is a culture barrier preventing the widespread adoption of mobile payments.

UK banks are finding success with their own payment platforms

Mobile Payments US & UKBanks in the United Kingdom have reported a surge in the adoption of new mobile payments service over the past few years. Barclays has its own mobile platform, called Pingit, which now accounts for 1 million transactions as of January of this year. This is an increase over the 100,000 transactions it had been responsible for only one year ago. Payment services in the U.S. have seen similar growth, especially due to the availability of new services like Apple Pay and Android Pay.

Consumers want more security from their mobile payments services

The mobile payments sector is still considered quite young. As such, there is room for growth in its various aspects. For consumers, security remains one of the most important priorities. If services cannot protect their financial information, consumers are unlikely to make use of them. These consumers also want more value added to the mobile payments services they are interested in. This may be accomplished through stronger support for loyalty programs.