Company may be preparing to launch its own payments platform in fall this year
Apple may be preparing to launch its own mobile payments platform alongside the iPhone 6 this fall. The company has been meeting with various prominent payment organizations that have ties to the mobile world and rumors are beginning to circulate regarding Apple’s plans for mobile shopping and a new era of commerce. The company has already been testing a type of mobile payments service in Japan through its iTunes and app stores.
Apple approaches digital commerce with caution because of security concerns
Apple has been slow to enter into the digital commerce space, largely due to concerns regarding security and the lack of technology capable of meeting the company’s high standards. There had been rumors suggesting that the iPhone 5 would be Apple’s entry into the mobile payments space, but this was not the case. The company had opted not to make use of NFC technology, which had been the primary technology through which mobile transactions were made. This technology is now losing ground as the commerce world begins to evolve.
Company forms partnerships to tackle challenges in a changing field of commerce
Apple has been partnering with various organizations to develop a better understanding of mobile payments. The company has also been taking mobile security much more seriously. The iPhone 6 will have a more robust biosensor, allowing people to use their fingerprint as a form of identification. This sensor is likely to be incorporated into Apple’s mobile payments venture, as it will add another layer of security to transactions and help keep consumer financial information safe.
Demand for mobile payment support is high among iOS users
There has yet to be any definitive announcement of Apple’s mobile payments plans, but the company has shown strong interest in offering its customers a way to pay for goods and services using little more than a mobile device. Many iOS users have been calling for mobile payment support for some time, praising companies like Google for introducing services that support mobile shopping on Android devices.
Popular app files two trademarks that could dictate its future
Massively popular mobile photo-sharing application Snapchat may be looking to solidify its future as a relevant application by embracing mobile payments. The app has become widely popular among a large demographic, but its uses are somewhat limited. It exists as a photo and video-sharing platform, through which users can share snippets of their lives with those on their contact lists. Typically, the pictures and videos shared through the app have a very short lifespan, with some lasting only seconds before being lost forever.
Trademarks highlight mobile commerce services
Snapchat has filed two trademarks that highlight its interest in the field of mobile commerce. The trademarks suggest that the company is interested in accepting, processing, and transferring payments among its users. One of the trademarks refers to computer application software that is responsible for handling electronic payments. The trademark suggests that this software can be downloaded from a global network, allowing it to be accessed by potentially millions of users. The second trademark filed by Snapchat involves the electronic transfer of money to others. This would involve the transfer of funds from various sources, including mobile devices.
Snapchat may be able to find enduring success by engaging in mobile commerce
Snapchat has not yet revealed how it intends to implement these new trademarks, but a focus on mobile commerce could help the company establish lasting relevance among its users. Snapchat is not the first photo-sharing application and it will not be the last. Many of its predecessors have faded into obscurity because they had little in the way of versatility. Apps that offer more than just a single, relatively simple feature have the potential to remain relevant among consumers that are generally quite fickle about the apps that they use.
Snapchat has limited experience in mobile payments
The demand for mobile commerce is on the rise. Consumers want to make use of new services that allow them to manage, transfer, and use their funds at their discretion. Snapchat may not have extensive experience with mobile commerce, but it does have access to a massive consumer base that may respond well to whatever efforts it ends up making in the mobile payments field.
