Mobile Commerce

Category: Mobile Commerce

Turbulence rocks mobile commerce partnership

JT | June 1, 2013

Mobile commerce deal between VeriFone and the Taxicab Commission goes sour

VeriFone, a leading developer of point-of-sale technologies, has been making strong progress in the field of mobile commerce recently. The company has seen the demand for mobile point-of-sale systems grow in recent years and has been working to accommodate the needs of its customers, many of whom have shown aggressive interest in mobile payments. VeriFone recently entered into a deal with the Taxicab Commission of Washington D.C. The partnership had started relatively well, but soon encountered significant problems that eventually lead to significant turbulence.

Mobile commerce is growing in popularity, but problems still exist

While mobile commerce is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, not all of the news that comes from this field can be good all the time. The partnership between VeriFone and the Taxicab Commission is one example of this and the partnership may serve as an example of the perils that exist in the mobile commerce field. Due to the relative youth of mobile commerce, the challenges that companies face in this field are still somewhat unknown and partnerships that run into these challenges may be able to provide some degree of insight on how such challenges can be overcome or avoided altogether.

Partnership had sought to bring mobile commerce into taxi transportation

The partnership between VeriFone and the Taxicab Commission was meant to install smart meters into the cabs that operate in Washington D.C. These smart meters would facilitate mobile payments, allowing consumers to pay cab fares with their mobile devices rather than traditional forms of currency. The adoption of smart meters was considered a good business move due to the growing number of consumers that are becoming more reliant on their smartphones and tablets. The Taxicab Commission had initially been enthusiastic regarding the partnership, but quickly sought to back away from the deal it had made with VeriFone.

VeriFone notes strong interest in mobile commerce field remains clear among many companies

VeriFone is now claiming that the Taxicab Commission owes the company as much as $18.5 million. Most of these expenses come from cancellation fees that had been negotiated prior to the finalization of the partnership between the two companies. While the partnership between the two companies has fallen through, VeriFone notes that mobile commerce is still a field where many merchants and other businesses are showing a great deal of interest.

UK consumers show favor for mobile payments

Dan Gendro | June 1, 2013

VocaLink study sheds light on consumer interests in mobile payments

VocaLink, an international payments firm, has released a new study that aims to provide insight on what consumers want to see in the realm of mobile payments. The study focuses primarily on consumers in the United Kingdom and aims to shed light on their behavior and what they want to see emerge from the mobile commerce field. According to the study, many consumers are eager for banking and mobile payments services, but many of these consumers are already making use of these services in many parts of the country.

Study shows many smartphone owners are participating in mobile commerce

According to the study, approximately 60% of UK consumers own a smartphone and are making use of various mobile payments services. Adoption of mobile commerce is most prolific among the youngest generation of consumers, largely due to the fact that these consumers have grown up steeped in technology. Older consumers are interested in mobile payments as well, but have shown more interest in other convenient services that the mobile space has to offer, such as those found in the realm of banking.

UK mobile payments are mostly money transfers between friends and family

Mobile payments are becoming more common throughout the United Kingdom, but the study shows that many of these payments are not actually made to purchase products from companies. According to the survey, many mobile transactions are made between consumers and their friends or family members. The study shows that consumers are also using their mobile devices to pay for parking access, while approximately 3% of consumers are using their devices to purchase groceries and other products.

Banks could play vital role in growth of mobile commerce

The study suggests that the United Kingdom’s banks and other financial service firms hold a great deal of sway in the realm of mobile commerce. Not only do banks manage the various aspects of commerce throughout the country, they also have the ability to enable mobile payments services. The study shows that 60% of consumers that have participated in mobile commerce claim they would be more inclined to make mobile payments if such services were supported by their chosen banks.