Author: Stephen

Mobile payments field is growing more competitive

| June 17, 2014

Mobile commerce platforms are beginning to be held to a higher standard

Mobile commerce may be growing in popularity, but that also means that it is coming under more aggressive scrutiny. Consumers are becoming less inclined to accommodate mobile platforms that are inherently flawed and lack appropriate security and convenience features. As such, a growing number of mobile payment platforms that had sought success in the mobile field are beginning to suffer from the fact that many consumers are simply no longer willing to justify their use of faulty products.

Large platforms manage to overcome some of the more serious issues plaguing mobile commerce

Large mobile platforms like Isis and Google Wallet have managed to sidestep some scrutiny due to their strong backing from major companies and the fact that they have either avoided falling prey to serious flaws or fixed their flaws in early stages of their launch. Smaller platforms, however, are finding it difficult to establish traction with consumers. Some of the platforms come from retailers and other businesses that are eager to enter into the mobile commerce space. This eagerness has produced some lackluster mobile payments services that have not done well among consumers.

Report highlights ambitious platforms that solve real problems

Mobile Payments CompetitionPlatforms from small organizations are not doomed to fail, of course. A recent report from Kristina Yee of M4 Associates, highlights five platforms that could find success in the mobile space. Cardis is noted in the report as being capable of tackling the problem of microtransactions. Cardis aims to allow merchants to offer goods at a low price to consumers by reducing transaction fees. Bitpay is another service that aims to create a bridge between digital and physical currencies without attempting to make physical currencies obsolete.

Smaller organizations are feeling the need to resolve problematic issues

Small organizations are beginning to understand that they need to take steps to address real problems t hat exist in the mobile space rather than simply make mobile commerce more available. These organizations are beginning to focus on improving mobile commerce security and accessibility while also providing solutions that resolve some of the issues that exist in traditional commerce.

Fashion may dictate the future of wearable technology

| June 12, 2014

Fashion is playing a role in people’s interest in wearable devices

Acclaimed technology firm Intel has claimed that wearable devices are as much about fashion as they are about technology. Wearable technology is beginning to see a great deal of exposure and new devices that offer a wide range of features are finally becoming commercially available. It may be years before these devices become as popular as smartphones and tablets, and their popularity may be intrinsically tied to their appeal as fashion accessories.

Many people are concerned about their fashion choices

Fashion happens to be a serious matter for many people. A large portion of the population spends a great deal of time thinking about what to wear and how their clothing and accessory choices will affect how they are seen. This has been something of a concern for many people for centuries and fashion has often directed the course of technology, especially when it comes to using technology publically. Cell phones initially won favor among consumers because they were both convenient and fashionable to use at the time. Smartphones quickly won popularity because of their more discreet nature and the fact that they served as a sort of status symbol when they were first introduced.

Wearable devices are too cumbersome for most people

Wearable Technology - FashionIntel notes that many people currently see wearable devices as “geeky” or ugly. People are unwilling to use these devices because many of them are cumbersome in design and do not lend themselves well to people’s fashion tastes. While some of these devices may be very attractive from a technology standpoint, they are not so from a fashion perspective, and that may be the reason why people are not as excited for these devices as tech firms want them to be.

Intel contest aims to reward developers that take fashion into account

Intel has launched its own competition hoping to encourage tech developers to take fashion into more consideration. The company is offering a $500,000 grand prize for those participating in its Build It Development Track. The contest is meant to promote wearable devices that are both environmentally friendly and attractive from a fashion perspective.