Author: Rebecca

Among the primary barriers to paying via smartphone has been a concern that it is not secure.

Although mobile payments are becoming increasingly popular among smartphone and tablet users, they are still not increasing in use at the rate that many in the industry had predicted, despite its broad availability.

Among the main concerns that consumers have expressed is in the form of worries over its security.

That said, Zapp, a mobile payments provider, has now released a report that says that using smartphones to complete purchase transactions is actually safer than buying something over an e-commerce website. Within the report, the company explained that people using this type of service can better “…carry out secure transactions…” than would be possible if they were shopping at the typical online commerce website.

Zapp feels that mobile payments can allow a consumer to shop with the same security as they would with other transactions.

According to David Emsworth, a spokesperson for Zapp, the smartphone based payments ecosystem is undergoing an evolution that should make it possible for a consumer to use a mobile wallet with the same confidence in its safety and security as they would have when using any other transaction platform.

That said, Emsworth does admit that among the reasons that mobile wallets have not yet faced the types of usage popularity that would draw as much attention to them from hackers as has been created by credit cards. As there aren’t that many users, there aren’t as many criminals out there who are targeting the method.

Potential thieves aren’t yet spending the type of time and effort on cracking mobile wallet systems and platforms as they are on systems that have a considerably larger usage base. That said, as this type of transaction becomes increasingly mainstream, it is unavoidable that those thieves will start to place more of a focus on those smartphone based platforms.

Therefore, while Zapp may be right in saying that mobile payments are currently actually a safer method of shopping than submitting a credit card number into an e-commerce checkout system, it is unknown as to whether or not that will remain the case as consumers start to use these digital wallets on a larger scale.

Mobile transactions will be supported by 1,000 Shell station in the United Kingdom

PayPal has teamed with Shell in the United Kingdom in order to facilitate mobile payments at gas stations. Drivers will be able to use the Shell Motorist App or the PayPal App in order to pay for their gas. Some 1,000 Shell stations will accept these mobile payments, which can be made by scanning a QR code. The new mobile payments service will be made available in April of this year.

Mobile commerce continues to gain momentum

Mobile commerce is becoming a powerful force in the United Kingdom, where a growing number of consumers are using their mobile devices to shop online and pay for products in physical stores. PayPal has established a strong foothold in the mobile payments space by offering services that help make mobile commerce more convenient. Convenience is one of the major attractions of mobile payments. In retail, consumers can skip long lines and checkout processes by using their mobile devices. Now, this convenience is coming to gas stations in the UK.

New service could make gas stations more convenient for consumers

PayPal believes that consumers will participate more in mobile commerce if there is a clear benefit in doing so. The new service being launched with Shell may bring more convenience and speed to those that are fueling their vehicles. The partnership between the two companies may also accelerate the acceptance of mobile payments among consumers, offering an example of how mobile commerce can be incorporated into various service sectors.

Partnerships may help mobile commerce overcome its main challenges

Mobile commerce is expected to continue gaining momentum in the United Kingdom. In the coming years, consumers may opt to use their mobile devices to pay for products and services more than they use their credit and debit cards. Cash may also fall by the wayside in the near future, as mobile devices represent an easier way to pay. There are still challenges that face the mobile commerce space, of course, but partnerships between large companies could help the sector overcome these challenges.