Tag: microsoft

Sony takes note of the rise of mobile gaming

The game industry has long been restricted to stationary consoles and PCs. In the advent of mobile technology, the industry was able to enter into a new market by creating games that could be played on smart phones and tablets. Sony is one of the largest companies in the game industry, and one that has a formidable presence in the mobile gaming space. Though the company has attributed a great deal of value to mobile gaming, it is unwilling to break away from its console roots, which may make the Playstation 4 much more interesting.

One Sony initiative could give Playstation 4 some mobility

Sony Vice President Hiroshi Sakamoto recently suggested that the Playstation 4 could launch as soon a May this year. Despite the possibility of a launch, there is still very little information available for the next generation console, apart from the fact that it is part of the “One Sony” initiative. One Sony is an internal campaign that aims to establish universal compatibility and connectivity between all Sony gaming devices, consoles or otherwise. This idea can be seen in the connectivity between the Playstation 3 and the PS Vita.

Mobile gaming beginning to compete with consoles

Sony notes that traditional consoles are likely to experience a great deal of competition with mobile gaming platforms. The growing popularity of mobile gaming, as well as the increasing capabilities of mobile technology, could threaten the position that consoles hold within the game industry one day. Sony is keen to avoid any significant impact from the continued success of mobile devices by making sure that future consoles will be able to synergize with these devices.

Sony eager to create link between mobile and console games

Gamers tend to be a flexible, if somewhat fickle, bunch. Many people enjoy traditional consoles and are looking forward to what Sony has in store with the Playstation 4. These people also enjoy mobile games and Sony believes that combining the interest gamers have in console and mobile gaming will help the company beat out its competition in the upcoming console wars, wherein Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo will be fighting for the adoration of gamers all over the world.

Smartphone users have a wealth of information available to them by scanning QR codes on products and in advertisements, and will now be able to make charitable donations through the same format.

QR codes to aid 6,000 charities

The start-up Paystik has launched a campaign to raise charitable donations for over 6,000 charities using the QR code as a means to make quick and easy payments when consumers wish to donate to a charity of their choosing. The goal is to use QR codes for easy payments to both charities and small businesses. Both can sign on with Paystik to produce QR codes, thus reducing problems with billing and advertising.

The result will be an app for smartphones, allowing consumers to send quick and easy payments. Project C.U.R.E. will begin a campaign this week with direct mail. Last year, this organization reached out to consumers for charitable donations over the holidays and supplied over $40 million in medical care and supplies around the world. This campaign will be aimed at merchants this year.

QR codes gaining in US

The US has been a hard sell for mainstream use of QR code for payments. Companies like Paypal, DigiMo, Qriket, and Doxo have been accepting payments through QR, though none have become a huge success in that category. It is thought that smartphone saturation in the US could see a change in that regard, with smartphone use steadily on the rise. Still, a QR code is often a hard sell in the US. Some consumers are still not sure what their purpose is and are not aware of how to use the technology.

Co-founder James Ioannidis said, “Obviously, the first time is the hardest. But after on-boarding them, we see consumers making repeat transactions.” He went on to explain that he feels aiding charities will bring Paystik success where other campaigns featuring QR code have faltered. The biggest obstacle is getting the consumer aware of the code and to also download the app.

About Paystik

The company of New Stanford is a three-person operation based in Stanford Venture Studio at the Graduate School of Business. At the present time, the company is bootstrapped, meaning they have no outside investment. Ioannidis is a former program manager with Microsoft.