Author: Denny

Mobile commerce having an impact on financial services in Mexico

| May 7, 2013

Mobile Commerce MexicoMobile commerce causing a stir in Mexico

Commerce in Mexico is undergoing a monumental change as mobile technology begins to play a bigger role in the lives of consumers. Smartphones and tablets are becoming more available, making it possible for a greater number of people to get involved in mobile commerce. These consumers have shown a great deal of interest in shopping online using their mobile devices, praising mobile commerce for the convenience it offers. As mobile commerce continues to gain ground, it is beginning to transform the financial services sector of Mexico.

Banks and telecommunications companies set sights on mobile commerce

As consumers become more mobile, banks and telecommunications companies throughout Mexico are beginning to take action. Such is the case with Telcel, one of the country’s largest telecommunications companies. Telcel has been working to introduce new mobile commerce platforms to consumers in an effort to make mobile payments easier and more accessible. Several banks throughout the country have also been doing this in an attempt to make mobile banking more prolific among a new generation of mobile-centric consumers.

Report highlights the impact of mobile consumers

A new report from Packaged Facts, a market research firm, highlights the impact mobile commerce is beginning to have on the financial services sector in Mexico. The report, entitled “Mobile and Alternative Payments in Mexico,” notes that the penetration of mobile technology is the primary reason behind the growth of mobile commerce. As more smartphones and tablets find their way into consumer hands, the more likely consumers are to participate in mobile commerce and mobile banking.

Progress in mobile payments may depend on quality of service

The progress of mobile commerce is not likely to be dictated by the companies and organizations that embrace it, but by the quality of the services and mobile payments platforms being made available to consumers. If consumers do not have a positive experience with these platforms, they are unlikely to devote their time and money to mobile commerce.

Forced feedback to return to mobile games

| May 5, 2013

Mobile Games - return of forced feedbackForced feedback may make mobile games more engaging

Researchers from Germany’s Hasso Plattner Institute are working to bring forced feedback to mobile games. Forced feedback refers to textile stimulation that people can experience while playing games. In the past, this was accomplished through controllers equipped with technology that would send a vibration through a gamer’s hands. In the advent of mobile games, forced feedback has lost much of its popularity, but researchers believe they can bring forced feedback back to the limelight.

Mobile games lack features of bygone generations

Forced feedback is often considered a way to foster immersion into particular games. This feature was common in the arcade era of racing games, where steering wheels would react to in-game events. Mobile games lack this feature mainly because most mobile devices are not large enough to accommodate the technology involved and the general disinterest that comes from device makers concerning how consumers experience mobile games.

Researchers envision future where forced feedback matters

Researchers from the Hasso Plattner Institute have been working on a method to recreate this experience by delivering a small electrical current through a mobile device. This current stimulates the muscles in a noticeable fashion, but is not dangerous as it complies with medical standards. Researchers are currently working on a bracelet-like system that could be connected to a mobile device, allowing gamers to experience forced feedback in the mobile games that they play.

Interactive technologies may be a better fit for current gamers

The concept of forced feedback has only received modest attention in the modern game industry. Many consumers are calling for more immersive games, but forced feedback may not be the best way to meet the needs of consumers. Augmented reality, which is already widely used in entertainment and marketing, may be a more appropriate pursuit for the gaming world as it allows for more dynamic sensory stimulus than conventional forced feedback products.