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Author: Dan Gendro

Amazon and Apple may control the fate of mobile payments

Dan Gendro | April 27, 2013

Companies may holds significant sway over the future of mobile payments

Commerce is changing as mobile technology begins to play a bigger role in the lives of people around the world. Traditional payments are becoming more cumbersome to consumers, causing many to look for more convenient ways to purchase goods and services. Mobile has become the answer to this problem, with consumers flocking to the concept of mobile payments. As with many other aspects of commerce, a handful of companies and organizations are expected to have a major influence on this sector. Amazon and Apple are among those companies.

Amazon begins breaking into mobile commerce

Amazon has shown strong interest in mobile payments for some time, given that much of the company’s business is firmly within the online world. The company is consider an e-commerce giant, putting it in a position to establish itself as a leading power in the mobile commerce field. Indeed, Amazon has been working on its own mobile payments platform that is being designed with security in mind. Apple, on the other hand, has been very cautious of mobile payments, showing serious concern for mobile security.

Apple showing interest in taking mobile payments to a new level

It had been anticipated that Apple would break into the mobile commerce field with the release of the iPhone 5. This, however, was not the case, as the iPhone 5 did not end up supporting NFC technology as had been expected. While Apple had adopted a slow and steady approach to mobile payments, the company may soon be ramping up its efforts. Those involved in the mobile commerce industry suggest that it would be difficult for the company to break into a sector they do not specialize in, largely due to the various issues involved in general commerce.

Apple may serve as a platform for third party services

Apple has been showing signs that it is interested in service as a platform for mobile payments conducted through third parties rather than developing its own mobile commerce platform. To this end, Apple is likely to have significant sway over the industry, as it will play a role in determining which mobile payments services are viable and which could be considered insignificant.

Mobile games causing distraction for workers in the UK

Dan Gendro | April 25, 2013

UK workers are being distracted by mobile games

Mobile games are exceedingly popular with a wide range of people all over the world. These games may be so popular, in fact, that they are causing many people to miss work, or at least serving as a significant distraction. In the United Kingdom, the distraction that mobile games represent could be having a significant impact on the economy. A recent survey from FortuneFrenzy highlights the dubious side of the popularity of mobile games and how they are influencing consumers to avoid working.

Survey shows that majority of workers spend their time playing mobile games

According to the survey from FortuneFrenzy, approximately 53% of UK workers spend a significant part of their day on mobile games. The survey suggests that this is costing the economy as much as $400 million every year due to lost productivity. Approximately 57% of respondents to the survey note that they check their mobile devices at least once every 10 minutes, which itself cuts into productivity in a minor way. The survey shows that workers typically spend at least one hour on mobile games while working each day.

Growing popularity of mobile technology changes the work environment

A similar survey conducted by YouGov in 2005 found that 80% of workers throughout the UK considered it unacceptable to send or receive text messages in the workplace. Today, mobile technology plays a bigger role in people’s lives than it did in 2005. More people have access to smartphones and tablets than were available in 2005 and mobile games have become a major craze among consumers that are, in some cases, starved for entertainment.

Mobile games prove addicting for many

Mobile games have for some time now been designed to be as addicting as popular. This has helped enthrall and is a favorable practice in the game industry due to the fact that engagement is directly linked to revenue. The longer a person is engaged in any particular mobile game, the more exposed they are to advertisements and the more likely they are to make in-game purchases.