Category: Apps

PayPal launches new mobile payments service in Canada

| April 1, 2014

New service has been put to trial in Toronto, Canada

PayPal has brought a new mobile payments service to Toronto, Canada. The company has been working to further establish its dominance in the mobile commerce field by providing businesses and consumers a way to connect to one another more effectively throughout mobile devices. In Canada, consumers are beginning to use their smartphones for much more than just communication. These people are beginning to shop for products and pay for services from their mobile devices more frequently, increasing the demand for comprehensive mobile commerce services.

Mobile payments now supported by 50 bars in Toronto area

PayPal has partnered with 50 bars in the Toronto area in order to make mobile payments possible among consumers. Those using the PayPal mobile application can make payments at these bars with their smartphones. PayPal has launched similar services in the U.S., Australia, and the United Kingdom and has received strong support from consumers in those countries. The application also has a unique approach on the matter of security.

PayPal app takes a unique approach to mobile commerce security

Mobile Payments - Toronto CanadaIn order to place an order at a participating bar in Toronto, users of the PayPal app must “check-in” using the app’s location-based features. After doing so, consumers can place orders for food. In order to pay for the order, the application will require that the user takes a picture of themselves. This picture will be made available to staff as a form of authentication. The application can also be used to find nearby stores that also accept PayPal mobile payments.

PayPal focuses on restaurants for trial of new mobile services

The launch of PayPal’s service in Toronto represents a sort of trial. The company is testing the enthusiasm that Canadian consumers have when it comes to mobile commerce. If the company’s service receives strong support, it will likely make the service more widely available throughout the country. PayPal often chooses restaurants for these sorts of trials because they are places where consumers expect quick and convenient service. If PayPal’s services do well in that sort of environment, they are likely to perform well in retail environments as well.

Starbucks launches new mobile payments application

| March 31, 2014

New application could be a step toward Starbucks expanding the availability of its mobile commerce technology

Starbucks has released a new application for the iOS platform that could serve as a stepping stone for the company’s future mobile commerce endeavors. The company has become a major player in the mobile commerce sector thanks to its partnership with payments processor Square. Currently, Starbucks in the mobile commerce space are restricted to its family of stores, but the company does have plans to expand beyond its own stores in the future, possibly licensing off its mobile payments technology.

App allows users to tip baristas from their mobile device

The application allows consumers to tip their baristas at Starbucks stores from a mobile device. The app is meant to work alongside Starbucks’ existing mobile commerce services, allowing consumers more flexibility in the way they interact with the company and its employees. According to Starbucks, approximately 14% of all of its in-store transactions now come from mobile devices. The company has been quick to praise mobile commerce and has begun taking steps to help other organizations embrace the mobile sector more effectively.

Security continues to be an issue for many consumers

Mobile Payments - StarbucksWhile Starbucks have found significant success in its mobile commerce efforts, many consumers are still wary of the concept of mobile payments. There are security issues that exist in the mobile field that have yet to be adequately addressed by companies participating therein. The security of financial information is a priority for many consumers, and the lack of security that many mobile commerce platforms offer has become a problematic issue for consumers.

Starbucks could help assuage security issues in the mobile commerce field with its mobile payments technology

Starbucks has managed to provide a service that consumers feel comfortable with using. The company may be able to help address some of the security issues that exist in the mobile commerce field by making its own mobile payments technology more available to other companies. Starbucks currently has tentative plans to license out its technology, but exactly when this will happen is unclear at this time.