Tag: mobile payments

Australian government launches inquiry into mobile commerce

| November 7, 2012

 

Mobile commerce subject to government investigation

The Australian government has launaustrailia mobile commerce government investigationched an inquiry concerning the experiences consumers are having with downloading applications and applications used to make purchases from mobile devices. Mobile commerce has been growing in popularity in Australia for some time. The country is serving as host to several mobile commerce initiatives, including those coming from the Commonwealth Bank, one of the largest financial groups in the country. The growing popularity of mobile commerce has created a sense of unease from the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council, however, which is concerned for the quality of service and security of consumer financial information.

Simplicity of mobile apps to be investigated

The government agency is to investigate the quality of mobile application downloads to determine whether they are more complicated than they need to be. Some consumers have been issuing complaints regarding the overly complicated nature of some mobile applications, claiming that they are confusing and, at times, misleading. While app downloads are a matter for investigation, the government is much more concerned with in-app purchases.

Consumers raise complaints over in-app purchases

Mobile payments are often a sensitive issue, especially in terms of security. While many consumers have shown interest in making payments through their mobile devices, this can be dangerous and puts their financial information at risk. In regards to in-app payments, the Commonwealth Consumers Affairs Advisory Council notes that consumers are experiencing a great deal of frustration from ramping costs that they cannot easily manage through certain applications. These applications could present a financial threat to some consumers.

Public consultation period to begin within weeks

Consumers and companies operating within the mobile commerce industry are being invited to share their input on the matter with the Australian government. The Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council will be opening up the inquiry for a public consultation period within the coming weeks, hoping to attain a more in-depth understanding of the problems consumers are having with mobile applications and mobile commerce in general.

Google Wallet set to go physical

| November 6, 2012

 

Google WalletGoogle Wallet may soon take the form of a card

By now, consumers that are interested in mobile commerce are likely to have heard of Google Wallet. This mobile payment platform can transform smart phones and tablets into platforms that allow consumers to make purchases of goods and services using digital information rather than physical currency. Despite a relatively rough launch last year, the Google Wallet has become a leading mobile commerce platform, successfully exposing a wide range of consumers to the concept of mobile payments.

Google Wallet Card could help expand the accessibility of mobile commerce

Google may now be gearing up for the launch of a physical version of the Google Wallet. The Google Wallet Card, as it is being called by Android Police, a technology web site, has caught some screenshots of Google’s plans and how a physical card may be the next step in the continued evolution of the Google Wallet. The new system will provide consumers with a card, much like the traditional credit cards that are widely used today. This card will be linked to a Google Wallet account and make use of the financial information associated with that account.

Consumers without NFC-enabled devices left out of mobile commerce loop

Through this initiative, Google aims to make mobile commerce more accessible to a wide range of consumers. Currently, mobile commerce is largely reserved to those with NFC-enabled mobile devices. Those without such a device are unable to participate in mobile payments simply because their devices cannot interface with the technology used in mobile commerce. The Google Wallet Card will solve this problem by giving consumers another option to engage in mobile payments.

Still a long way to go before mobile commerce becomes mainstream

The Google Wallet Card will be accepted anywhere major credits card are accepted. Google has invested heavily in mobile commerce thus far and is keen to ensure most consumers have the ability to engage in mobile payments. The Google Wallet Card is one step closer to realizing this plan, but Google will have to continue its work in order to get people interested in making payments using their smart phones and other mobile devices.