Category: Mobile Payments

BlackBerry teams with PayPal to focus on mobile commerce

| August 17, 2015

Partnership with PayPal will make mobile payments possible through BBM app

BlackBerry has been struggling to compete in the mobile space for some time, but focusing into the mobile commerce space may give the company the edge it needs to engage consumers. BlackBerry has announced that it has partnered with PayPal in order to develop a method to allow BlackBerry users to send and receive money. Transactions will be conducted through BBM chats, which will be accessible to iOS and Android BBM users as well.

Beta version of app is now being tested in Canada

A beta version of the application that will be used to make transactions has already been released, but testing for Android and iOS BBM users is being limited to those living in Canada. Through the BBM app, users can use the “Send Money” icon provided by PayPal, which will allow them to transfer funds to others using the application. Funds will be passed between PayPal accounts, so users must have an authorized account before their can receive money.

BlackBerry finds challenges in working in the mobile commerce space

Blackberry & PayPal Partnership - Mobile CommerceBlackBerry has involved itself in the mobile commerce space in the past, but has found limited success in doing so. BBM Money was one of the first mobile payments service from the company, which allowed users to send funds to others. They could also use this service to send people pre-paid mobile credit, which could be used for a variety of purposes. BlackBerry has not found the same success in mobile commerce as other companies, such as PayPal and Google.

Engaging in mobile commerce may give BlackBerry the tools it needs to compete

Companies that have begun focusing on mobile commerce have begun finding success in their favored markets. For BlackBerry, a greater focus on mobile commerce may provide the company with more momentum, allowing it to compete with both Apple and Google when it comes to the mobile payments market. BlackBerry users have been seeking mobile commerce solutions for some time, but their options have been quite limited due to the lack of support that BlackBerry devices have for mobile transactions.

 

Study predicts the growth of India’s mobile commerce market

| August 14, 2015

Mobile commerce is accelerating at a rapid rate in India

A new study from ASSOCHAM and Grant Thornton predicts that mobile commerce will explode in India in the coming year. The study forecasts that the overall e-commerce market will see a compound annual growth rate of 63%, reaching $8.5 billion in 2016. Mobile shopping is likely to play a larger role in this growth, as more consumers are beginning to use their mobile devices to shop for products online.

Mobile Internet use is growing quickly, giving consumers more access to mobile services

Mobile Internet penetration is growing throughout India and telecommunications companies are working to quickly expand their mobile networks in order to accommodate consumer demand. Smartphone adoption is also on the rise, with penetration expected to go beyond 200 million, ranking India the second largest smartphone market in the world. More consumers will be using their mobile devices to shop online and retailers will be working to provide better mobile commerce services to these consumers in order to secure their loyalty.

Online transactions to reach 38 million by the end of the year

Study - India Mobile CommerceBy the end of this year, there is expected to be more than 38 million online transactions, an increase from the 11 million that was reported in 2011. The Indian government has also taken an interest in mobile commerce, planning to rebuild and modernize the postal infrastructure in order to better accommodate digital consumers. This modernization is being seen in various other sectors, as well, and it is becoming easier for consumers to participate in mobile commerce.

Online travel dominates the mobile commerce market in India

Online travel seems to be the leading force India’s e-commerce market. More consumers are beginning to use their mobile devices to book trips and plan their vacations and mobile has become one of the most influencing powers affecting online travel in the country. Retail is also experiencing a surge in mobile shopping and retailers are beginning to work to become more mobile-centric in order to provide consumers with efficient and adequate mobile commerce services.