Author: Stephen

Does Wearable Technology Have a Future?

Wearable devices are becoming more common. Most of these devices have very limited uses, with some existing only to keep track of how many steps a person has taken in a short amount of time. More ambitious devices are beginning to enter the market, but whether or not these devices will find any success is suspect. Many people are showing interest in wearable technology, but this does not mean that these people will be using these devices on a daily basis.

Currently, one of the major selling points of wearable devices is that they can simply do what smartphones already do, but better. Smartphones are quite capable of doing anything a pair of augmented reality glasses or a smartwatch can do. These devices have been equipped with features that are considered “new” to the field of wearable technology for years. While some wearable devices may be able to outshine smartphones, they can only manage to do so by having a very specific focus on a particular purpose. Smartphones, however, are not restricted to a singular focus and can do many things very effectively.

Wearable technology futureWearable devices may have very limited market appeal. Because they do not actually offer something new, apart from how a person uses a mobile device, they may be a hard sell to consumers. Many people are happy to use their smartphones and tablets in public, and these devices have become something of a fashion accessory for people everywhere. Wearable devices do not have the same appeal currently. Augmented reality glasses, for instance, are not designed with appearance in mind. As such, those interested in such devices may shy away from using them because of how they look, and how these devices will make them look in public.

Wearable technology does have a future, but what that future looks like is difficult to say for certain. In the early days of mobile technology, there was uncertainty regarding how popular mobile phones would be. Wearables may well be the next smartphone, if they can manage to overcome some of the challenges that they will experience in society.

Mobile wallets are becoming a big deal for Visa and MasterCard

As mobile commerce continues to thrive, digital wallets are becoming more important

Mobile wallets may soon be the way of the future. A growing number of applications that are designed specifically to store financial information and data provided by retailers are emerging in the mobile space. These apps are thriving in the popularity of mobile commerce, finding support among consumers that want to pay for products using nothing more than their smartphones and tablets. For Visa and MasterCard, the mobile wallet holds a great deal of promise, but both companies are finding it difficult to engage mobile consumers effectively.

Visa is trying to form a direct connection with consumers

Both Visa and MasterCard have their own mobile commerce services on offer. Visa’s Checkout service was introduced in July and is meant to replace the company’s old digital wallet. Using the service, consumers will be able to pay for goods and services using data on their mobile devices. Visa is using its marketing clout to promote this new mobile wallet, but whether or not the service will prove popular among consumers has yet to be seen. Visa is currently struggling to form a direct connection with consumers, having focused so heavily on its relationship with businesses.

MasterCard wants businesses to integrate its digital wallet

Mobile Wallets - MasterCard and VisaMasterCard is offering a similar service with its MasterPass platform. The MasterPass application is meant to help make e-commerce more convenient to consumers, but MasterCard is not likely to try to form a direct connection with people using the app. Instead, the company is likely to continue focusing its efforts on providing services to its business partners, allowing them to connect with mobile consumers more dynamically. For MasterCard, creating something new is not the priority. The company wants to see its MasterPass service integrated into existing platforms.

Mobile wallets could be the key to omnichannel engagement

Merchants are working to adapt to the idea of omnichannel engagement. In a world where mobile technology has become so prominent, this has proven to be a difficult task. Connecting with mobile consumers is a complicated issue, but mobile wallets may be the key to success in this endeavor. In the coming years, more people are likely to be engaged in mobile commerce, and they will need digital wallets to make their experiences enjoyable.