Tag: near field communications

Mobile commerce is affecting global IT spending

| April 11, 2016

New report shows that spending in the IT sector has changed due to the rise of mobile payments

The growing adoption of smartphones and tablets has powered the evolution of commerce. More consumers than ever before are now involved in mobile commerce, the process through which smartphones and tablets are used to shop for and purchase products, both online and in physical stores. A new report from Technavio shows that the growth of mobile commerce has changed spending habits in the global information technology (IT) market. More organizations in this market are focusing their investments on new technologies that can make mobile payments more convenient.

Report shows that companies are investing more in mobile technology

According to the report, the growth of the mobile commerce market has spurred companies to invest more heavily in mobile technology, such as NFC and Bluetooth. More companies are investing in new IT solutions to enhance their technological capabilities and allow them to engage mobile consumers more effectively. These IT solutions may help companies keep pace with the rapidly evolving mobile space, where consumers are often considered quite fickle and difficult to connect with.

Better data may help companies connect with their mobile customers more effectively

Mobile Commerce SpendingCompanies interested in mobile commerce have begun to collaborate with companies like IBM and Oracle in order to better understand the needs of mobile consumers. These organizations are providing valuable analytical data that can help companies form better mobile services in the future. These companies are also beginning to invest more heavily in data security, which has been something that mobile consumers have been concerned with for several years.

Banks will be investing more aggressively in mobile commerce in the coming years

Technavio predicts that a substantial portion of the spending on mobile commerce solutions will come from the banking sector. Banks have been investing in digital solutions for years, hoping to provide mobile customers with the services that they need. With rising demand for mobile commerce support, many banks are beginning to feel pressure to adapt to a world that is becoming more mobile-centric.

Square breaks into the Australian mobile payments market

| March 9, 2016

Square is coming to Australia

Square, a prominent mobile payments firm, has expanded into the Australian market. The company has made its payment service available in the United States, Canada, and Japan, where it has found significant success in the past. While considered successful, Square has been experiencing some turbulence in recent months, largely due to falling stock prospects and growing competition in the mobile commerce space. The growing demand for new payment services in Australia may secure a brighter future for Square if it manages to effectively connect with consumers.

Company has managed to find success by expanding access to mobile commerce among consumers

Square launched in 2009, receiving strong support from several technology companies and organizations interested in mobile payments. The company had developed an accessory for mobile devices that allowed iOS and Android devices to make mobile transactions, even if they were not equipped with NFC technology. This accessory earned Square early popularity among consumers and put the company in direct competition with others that had developed similar accessories for mobile devices.

Square will be offering different products in Australia than it does in the US

Australia - Mobile PaymentsIn Australia, Square will be selling its mobile card reader for $19. Merchants using Square’s mobile payments services will be charged 1.9% per transaction being made. This is somewhat different from what Square offers in the United States, where its mobile card reader is free, but merchants can purchase a full-sized point-of-sale system for $99. In the U.S., merchants are charged 2.75% per mobile transaction being made. Square has not yet announced plans to launch its new contactless payment reader in Australia, but may choose to do so in the future.

Company to compete with Apple in the Australian payments market

Australia is becoming a competitive mobile payments market, with several companies bringing their new payment platforms to the country. Recently, Apple released its payment service in Australia, which Square is set to compete with. Square may find a place in the market among small and medium sized retailers who want to engage mobile consumers more effectively, thereby securing a degree of success in Australia.