Tag: verizon wireless

Mobile payments continue to be a complex issue

Mobile commerce has become quite popular, but not everyone is sold on the idea of paying for things with their mobile device. The idea is quite simple: Mobile applications act as facilitators of mobile transactions, allowing people to make purchases while shopping online from their smartphones and tablets. Under the surface, mobile commerce is anything but simple, thanks to changing commerce standards and the ever present threat of exploitation coming from malicious groups that want to get their hands on consumer financial information.

Because mobile commerce is not as straightforward as it seems, many people are wondering whether or not mobile payments are actually worthwhile or little more than a passing novelty. Much of this uncertainty is actually tied up in the technology that is supporting mobile payments. NFC technology and cloud computing are the two structures that currently support the mobile payments industry, and this industry is currently in the midst of a format war. NFC-based solutions are vying for the support of consumers and businesses alike alongside cloud-based services.

In the format war, the cloud may have the upper hand. NFC-based solutions have the drawback of only being available on NFC-enabled mobile devices. This means that mobile wallets and other mobile commerce services that rely on NFC can only be used by smartphones and tablets that have an NFC chip embedded within them. Cloud-based services have no such limitations and it is for this reason the cloud is becoming more prominent when it comes to mobile payments.

Beyond the format war, other issue exist that continue to make mobile commerce a complicated matter. Large companies are beginning to muscle their way into the mobile scene, hoping to take advantage of the growing popularity of mobile payments. Companies like AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Google, and others have launched mobile wallets into the market. The problem isn’t that large companies are entering into the mobile commerce fray, of course, it is that these companies are rushing into the battle with little concern for anything else but exposure.

When Google first launched its ambitious Wallet service, the mobile wallet quickly fell prey to serious security issues that made the platform unpopular with many people. The platform had been using NFC technology at the time, and many people began to consider that technology faulty from a security perspective. Google has since moved away from NFC and has resolved many of the security issues that it faced with the initial launch of Wallet, but the damage the company’s haste caused has set its mobile commerce interests back considerably.

Another issue that mobile payments are facing has to do with the long wait people must endure before mobile commerce services become available to them. Many of the services that are most popular today were only released a few short months ago, while those that are highly anticipated may not be released for several years yet. Large organizations are beginning to take their time developing comprehensive platforms, but small companies are pumping out nw platforms at a rapid pace, saturating the market but doing little to overcome the actual problems that face mobile commerce currently.

Mobile commerce is not something that can be solved easily. There is no singular correct approach to engaging mobile consumers or enticing them to pay for products with a smartphone or tablet. As with most things, those seeking success in this field may have to find a balance between the problems they can and cannot solve.

Company has plans to continue adapting to changes in the mobile world

T-Mobile has offered mobile devices to U.S. consumers for several years. The company has competed with others in the telecommunications sector by providing nearly identical services that consumers have either fund to be of little value or too expensive for their taste. As the mobile landscape has changed, however, T-Mobile has been positioning itself to play a larger role in the lives of its customers, both current and future. The company has done away with the service contracts that are common among its competitors while also offering to pay the termination fee associated with these contracts for anyone wishing to find a new mobile service provider. Now, the company is looking to establish a stronger presence in the mobile commerce field.

T-Mobile seeks to expand beyond Isis

T-Mobile has already entered into the mobile commerce space through Isis. Along with AT&T and Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile has invested heavily in the Isis platform, which has managed to acquire the support of most of the country’s major financial organizations as well as consumers. While Isis boasts of a great deal of promise, T-Mobile has plans that extend beyond that platform. The company has recently unveiled its Mobile Money service, which seeks to provide consumers with a new way to manage their finances.

Mobile Money service is available for free to T-Mobile customers

The Mobile Money service combines the use of a mobile application with a branded, prepaid Visa card. The service has no fees associated with it and provides consumers with a way to pay for products using their mobile device or a branded card. The service also allows consumers to add money to their prepaid Visa card by taking a picture of a check. The card itself can be used to withdraw funds from more than 42,000 ATMs located throughout the country. All of the service’s features have no fees and there is no minimum balance requirements associated with the branded Visa card.

Mobile commerce begins to play a bigger role in the lives of consumers

T-Mobile has plans to establish itself as a leader in the mobile field, and this involves establishing a stronger presence when it comes to commerce. In the past, the mobile space was primarily concerned with communication. As technology has advanced, however, consumers have begun using their mobile devices for shopping and managing their finances. T-Mobile is keen to adapt with the changes occurring in the mobile sector so that it can remain relevant to consumers.