Tag: mobile commerce platforms

Mobile payments field is growing more competitive

Mobile commerce platforms are beginning to be held to a higher standard

Mobile commerce may be growing in popularity, but that also means that it is coming under more aggressive scrutiny. Consumers are becoming less inclined to accommodate mobile platforms that are inherently flawed and lack appropriate security and convenience features. As such, a growing number of mobile payment platforms that had sought success in the mobile field are beginning to suffer from the fact that many consumers are simply no longer willing to justify their use of faulty products.

Large platforms manage to overcome some of the more serious issues plaguing mobile commerce

Large mobile platforms like Isis and Google Wallet have managed to sidestep some scrutiny due to their strong backing from major companies and the fact that they have either avoided falling prey to serious flaws or fixed their flaws in early stages of their launch. Smaller platforms, however, are finding it difficult to establish traction with consumers. Some of the platforms come from retailers and other businesses that are eager to enter into the mobile commerce space. This eagerness has produced some lackluster mobile payments services that have not done well among consumers.

Report highlights ambitious platforms that solve real problems

Mobile Payments CompetitionPlatforms from small organizations are not doomed to fail, of course. A recent report from Kristina Yee of M4 Associates, highlights five platforms that could find success in the mobile space. Cardis is noted in the report as being capable of tackling the problem of microtransactions. Cardis aims to allow merchants to offer goods at a low price to consumers by reducing transaction fees. Bitpay is another service that aims to create a bridge between digital and physical currencies without attempting to make physical currencies obsolete.

Smaller organizations are feeling the need to resolve problematic issues

Small organizations are beginning to understand that they need to take steps to address real problems t hat exist in the mobile space rather than simply make mobile commerce more available. These organizations are beginning to focus on improving mobile commerce security and accessibility while also providing solutions that resolve some of the issues that exist in traditional commerce.

United Nations adopts mobile commerce service from Etisalat

Flous mobile commerce service to be used by UN agency in Togo, Africa

Etisalat, a leading telecommunications organization in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, has announced that its mobile commerce service, called Flous, has been adopted by the United Nations’ Population Fund Agency. The agency will be using Flous to transfer salaries of more than 6,000 of its agents working in Togo. The mobile commerce platform has managed to acquire a significant amount of praise from those that have used it in many parts of the world and the platform is expected to meet the needs of the UN agency.

Service will allow agents to access their funds from a mobile device and pay for products and bills online

The Population Fund Agency in Togo is the first United Nations organization to adopt the service developed by Etisalat. The service will also those with an Etisalat account to access their funds through their mobile device. They will be able to use their smartphones and tablets to purchase products online with relative ease. Mobile shopping has become quite popular in Africa, especially as a growing number of people gain access to smartphones and similar devices.

Mobile shopping continues to grow due to its convenience

Mobile Commerce ServiceMobile shopping represents a certain degree of convenience for people living in many parts of the world. Those with limited personal time can benefit from mobile shopping, purchasing the products they need during long commutes. Mobile shopping can also exist as a way to get away from the crowds that are typically found at physical stores. These crowds can be a cause for anxiety among some people and mobile shopping could be an appropriate escape from such situations.

Lack of mobile infrastructure may hinder the growth of mobile services

Some infrastructure challenges may prevent the Flous platform from finding initial success in Togo. Mobile commerce is still quite new and many countries have not yet taken the steps necessary to accommodate mobile consumers. As such, relatively few retailers, utilities, and other businesses in Togo accept mobile payments currently, but this may change as mobile commerce continues to grow in popularity.