Author: Stephen

UnionPay to launch new mobile payments platform in China

| December 22, 2015

UnionPay and Powa Technologies team to expand mobile payments options in China

China’s UnionPay is entering into the mobile payments space. The bank, which is one of China’s largest financial institutions, has entered into a partnership with Powa Technologies, a company that has been involved in the mobile payments space for some time. Together, the two organizations will be working with one another in order to bring new solutions to consumers in China, which will bring more competition into the mobile payments sector and ensure the continued growth of this sector in the coming years.

Companies will launch joint venture in the Guangdong Province next year

UnionPay accounts for some 1.3 million credit and debit card users in the country and is also the world’s largest merchant acquirer, representing some 6 million merchants. Powa Technologies notes that the two companies are expected to launch a joint venture in the first quarter of 2016. This joint venture will be responsible for the launch of a new mobile payments platform, which will initially be available in the Guangdong Province, which has a population of more than 106 million, many of whom are beginning to rely on their mobile devices to shop and pay their bills.

PowaTag will be used for the new mobile payments platform

Mobile Payments PartnershipThe new mobile payments platform will be using technology developed by Powa Technologies, called PowaTag. The company is working with UnionPay to develop a special version of PowaTag, which will be more attuned to the needs of consumers in China. The platform will focus on the online-to-offline (O2O) market, which is generated some $47 billion in China alone during the first half of this year.

China continues to show itself as a leading mobile payments market

Mobile payments have experienced explosive growth in China, where large companies like Alibaba and Tencent have established a major lead in the sector. Foreign companies have been attempting to enter China’s mobile payments markets, but many of the country’s banks have proven to be resistant to their efforts. China is expected to continue growing as a leading mobile commerce market in the coming years, especially as smartphone penetration continues to grow.

Nintendo sets sights on mobile games

| December 17, 2015

Mobile gaming is becoming a major influence on the game industry as a whole

Mobile gaming has become a major source of entertainment for smartphone users. These games are easy to acquire, typically free, and convenient to play, which has allowed them to win the hearts of consumers throughout the world. Nintendo has been taking note of the growing popularity of mobile games and has now decided to develop new games for specific platforms. Nintendo has a long history with mobile platforms, having established a strong and healthy following with its massively popular Game Boy handheld console.

Nintendo is focusing more heavily on the mobile space in order to engage consumers

Nintendo is beginning to push its new Miitomo app, which allows people to connect with one another and create their own digital avatars. Nintendo is also analyzing how it can approach mobile gaming. The company could simply port its more popular titles to smartphones, but it is committed to providing consumers with a “wonderful experience.” This entails developing new games that are part of their popular franchises, making the games available specifically for smartphones and tablets.

Developers and publishers are showing more interest in the mobile gaming space

Nintendo - Mobile GamesMobile games have become a very powerful force in the overall game industry. Many developers have begun to focus on the mobile space because of its lucrative nature. Consumers have shown that they are willing to spend considerable amounts of money on these games and publishers and developers are interested in taking advantage of this. Some companies that had focused on traditional console games have now begun to devote their attention and resources to the mobile space.

Nintendo will not abandon its focus on console gaming

Though Nintendo is beginning to focus more on mobile games, the company is not likely to abandon its console interests. Nintendo has found success in the past with its mobile endeavors, but has managed to remain committed to its traditional gaming roots. As consumers become more mobile-centric, however, Nintendo and other developers are beginning to look for ways to better engage new generations of gamers.