Tag: hong kong

Asian Pacific markets embracing mobile payments

| March 23, 2013

Mobile Payments Asia Pacific MarketMasterCard reports that mobile payments are being well received in Asian markets

Mobile payments are becoming more popular in the Asian Pacific market, according to MasterCard. Access to smartphones and tablets is growing throughout these markets, making it possible for more consumers to conduct mobile payments than ever before. Many consumers in these markets consider mobile commerce a more convenient way to purchase products, which has lead to a growing demand for mobile payment services and platforms that accommodate mobile shopping.

Consumers favor mobile commerce for online shopping

According to MasterCard, 40% of online shoppers in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore made purchases using their mobile devices in the past three months. Approximately 54% of Indonesian consumers made mobile payments over the same period, with China and Thailand accounting for 53% and 51% respectively. Mobile payments are becoming increasingly common throughout the Asian Pacific due to the proliferation of mobile technology.

Asian consumers are no stranger to NFC technology

MasterCard notes that NFC technology and its use in mobile commerce is relatively common throughout the region. According to the company, 70% of consumers throughout the Asian Pacific are aware of NFC technology and the role it plays in mobile payments. These consumers noted that they would be willing to adopt NFC-enabled mobile devices to participate in mobile commerce within the next 12 months. Digital wallets, which typically do not use NFC technology, are also quite popular with consumers, though the majority of consumers in the Asian Pacific noted that they were more interested in SMS-based mobile payments.

Mobile commerce continues to grow globally

Mobile payments are expected to continue growing in popularity throughout the Asian Pacific. Other markets around the world are experiencing similar results in their mobile commerce sectors as smartphones and tablets become more accessible for consumers. MasterCard is currently involved in mobile commerce initiatives in several countries and through these initiatives is attempting to establish a firm grasp on the mobile payments sector.

PayPal seeks to expand mobile commerce in Hong Kong

| February 28, 2013

Hong Kong PayPal mobile commerceMobile commerce growing in the East

PayPal has been making a strong push into the mobile commerce arena recently. The company has long been involved in the world of online payments, but the proliferation of mobile technology has opened up new forms of commerce that PayPal is eager to take advantage of. The company has announced plans to begin expanding its reach across the global mobile commerce market and has set its sights to the East, showing a strong interest in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong sees major activity in mobile commerce sector

Hong Kong is one of the largest economic hubs in the Asian market. Companies with a strong focus on the online world have seen major progress in Hong Kong over the years and companies native to the region have seen aggressive growth in the Philippines, Argentina, South Korea, Sweden, and Russia. PayPal’s Hong Kong division notes that more consumers are relying on their mobile devices to make payments and research products, giving the company an ample opportunity to provide services to these consumers and the businesses of the region.

PayPal expected to increase activity in Hong Kong

Kerry Wong, managing director for PayPal’s operations in Hong Kong, claims that businesses in the region that use the company’s services experienced more growth than their competitors. These companies grew more than the industry average throughout the last 12 months, and many of these businesses have helped increase the regions exports by 2% thanks to the borderless nature of online trading and sales. PayPal expects that companies using its services will continue to see remarkable growth as they begin to embrace mobile commerce more aggressively.

Estimated $20 billion in mobile payments to be processed in 2013

PayPal has high expectations when it comes to online payments in 2013. The company, which boasts of more than 123 million active users worldwide, estimates that it will process over $20 billion in mobile payments globally this year. This is higher than the $14 billion in mobile payments the company processed in 2012.