Author: Stephen

United Way Worldwide embraces digital currency

| September 18, 2014

United Way Worldwide teams with Coinbase to accept Bitcoin donations

United Way Worldwide, a non-profit leadership and support organization, has announced its partnership with Coinbase, a commerce platform that specializes in Bitcoin. Through this partnership, United Way will begin accepting Bitcoin donations, making it the latest non-profit group to show some support for the digital currency. Bitcoin is somewhat controversial, but it has become accepted among non-profit organizations that attempt to attract support from a wide range of people, both online and off.

Bitcoin is gaining more support throughout the world

Bitcoin is sometimes seen as a dangerous sort of currency because some people associate it with hackers and malicious groups. The currency is, however, not affiliated with any singular group or demographic, serving only as a medium of commerce. The real issue that Bitcoin has is its volatility. Currently, one Bitcoin is worth $468, but the value of a single Bitcoin can change dramatically at any given moment. The currency’s value is affected by many factors, particularly its unregulated nature.

Digital currency could help non-profit groups engage a wider demographic of supporters

Digital Currency - Bitcoin Through the Coinbase platform, United Way will be accepting donations into its Innovation Fund. The organization is embracing the opportunity to make it easier for donors to support causes that they are interested in. The organization suggests that embracing innovation is one of the ways it can encourage others to do the same. As such, United Way may serve as an example of how non-profit groups can accept digital currency and attract more support from a wider demographic.

Bitcoin is having a major impact on the mobile commerce space, allowing businesses to engage mobile consumers more effectively

Bitcoin has become particularly favored in the mobile commerce space. A growing number of retailers and other businesses are beginning to embrace digital currencies because it gives them more access to mobile consumers. Mobile commerce has helped bring digital currencies from obscurity, showing that they can be used as an effective medium of commerce. As mobile payments continue to become more common, Bitcoin is likely to receive more acceptance as a legitimate currency.

Apple may fall behind in Japanese mobile payments

| September 16, 2014

Apple could have trouble engaging consumers in the Japanese market

Apple is having trouble finding traction in the Japanese mobile payments space. The country served as the launch for a pilot project from the company. The project focused on mobile payments, using the iTunes platform as a way to make purchases. Recently, Apple unveiled its new iPhone 6, which will be the company’s first official foray into the field of mobile commerce. In Japan, the device was received with relatively modest interest.

Mobile commerce has been around for more than a decade in Japan

Mobile payments have been around in Japan for more than a decade. The country is often considered to be the birthplace of mobile commerce, largely due to the high adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices among Japanese consumers. As mobile devices became more common, Japanese consumers began to demand new mobile-centric services. As such, businesses began embracing the mobile space and accepting payments that were made from these devices.

Consumers have a great deal of experience with NFC-enabled mobile devices

apple - mobile paymentsMany mobile devices in Japan are equipped with an NFC chip called Felica. This chip was first introduced to the market in 2004 and now has a home in nearly every mobile device sold in the country. The iPhone had been one of the very few devices sold in Japan that did not have a Felica chip installed in it. This will change when the iPhone 6 hits the market, but whether or not it will be able to compete with other, more well established mobile payments platforms is uncertain.

Japanese consumers show modest interest in the iPhone 6 and its capabilities

Japanese consumers have had years to get comfortable with mobile commerce. They have come to expect many things from the mobile platforms that they use on a daily basis and platforms that do not meet these expectations do not last long in the market. Apple has limited experience when it comes to mobile commerce, and this has placed the company in a precarious position when it comes to engaging Japanese consumers.