Category: Mobile Payments

Retail sector finds success in mobile commerce

| December 3, 2014

Retailers are reporting promising results from the holiday shopping weekend

The most significant retail holiday in the United States, Black Friday, has come and gone and many retailers saw a spike in total sales thanks to mobile commerce. Wal-Mart reported that it experienced the best three-day online shopping period it has seen in recent history and the company’s experience is being echoed by others that have adopted a focus on the digital space. According to a report from comScore, e-commerce sales throughout the United States surpassed $1 billion for the first time.

Total retail sales are lower this year than they were in 2013

While more people are shopping online, especially from their mobile devices, the retail sector has encountered some turbulence this year. Total retail sales for the holiday shopping weekend were down this year when compared to the results of 2013, according to the National Retail Federation. Many consumers opted to avoid physical stores in favor of mobile and e-commerce, while others opted to avoid holiday shopping altogether. The exact reasons behind lower retail sales this year and not entirely clear.

E-commerce is thriving among consumers interested in convenient shopping solutions

Mobile commerce reatil sector - WalmartThe report from comScore notes that consumers are shopping more from their personal computers and mobile devices. The report shows that shopping from a PC increased by 32% on Thanksgiving Day and 26% on Black Friday. Throughout November, purchases made from desktop computers rose by 15%. The report suggests that mobile commerce accounted for approximately 2% of all digital sales made during the holiday shopping weekend.

Mobile commerce has helped some retailers find success

The report also shows that e-commerce spending reached $1.009 billion this year, higher than the $766 million reported last year. Shopping online has become quite popular among consumers because of the convenience that it offers. When shopping at home from a computer, consumers can avoid the chaotic crowds that flock to retail stores on Black Friday. This convenience can also be found through mobile commerce, which allows people to purchase the products they are interested in at any time, no matter where they may be.

China’s UnionPay to launch new mobile payments service

| December 2, 2014

Competition is heating up in the mobile commerce field as large companies launch their own payment services

Competition among large companies participating in the mobile commerce field is heating up. Apple has delivered a strong blow to its competitors by entering into the field with its own mobile payments service, called Apple Pay. The service has a veritable armada of retailers supporting it and has also helped many consumers participate in mobile commerce. The service has also had an unintended effect, as Apple competitors have reported that they have seen a dramatic increase in mobile payments made through their own services since Apple Pay was launched.

UnionPay announces plans to launch new payment service called Android Pay

Apple Pay may soon have a very powerful competitor that aims to establish dominance in the burgeoning Asian market. China’s UnionPay, the largest financial service institution in the region, has announced that it will be launching its own mobile payment service, based on the Android operating system. The service, simply called Android Pay, us expected to significantly increase mobile commerce adoption throughout China.

New payment service is expected to use NFC technology to facilitate transactions

Mobile Payments launched in ChinaAndroid pay is expected to make use of NFC technology. If this is the case, UnionPay is likely to subsidize the cost of NFC-enabled SIM cards or other solutions, allowing consumers to make use of the service even if their mobile device does not have NFC capabilities of its own. The new platforms security features are still unknown, but it may be difficult for the Android platform to compete with Apple’s use of biometric technology to keep consumer information safe.

China continues to grow as a prominent mobile commerce market

China has become one of the most attractive and active mobile commerce markets in the world. Large retail groups, such as Alibaba, have been promoting mobile shopping among consumers for some time now and Chinese consumers have shown that they are willing to embrace mobile commerce. UnionPay may find significant success with its new mobile payments venture, if it can find a way to ensure the security of consumer information.