Category: Mobile Payments

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.

Mobile commerce is changing consumer behavior

| September 17, 2014

New report from comScore highlights a shift in consumer behavior, linked to mobile shopping

People are beginning to change their shopping habits due to new mobile services that are becoming available to them. A new report has been released by comScore that highlights this shift in consumer behavior. Traditionally, desktop and laptop computers have dominated the e-commerce space. This has begun to change as mobile technology begins to play a more important role in society. Consumers are becoming more mobile-centric and they are beginning to demand services that cater to their interests.

Mobile searchers are more likely to lead to actual purchases

The report shows that approximately 61% of searches on laptop and desktop computers resulted in a local purchase, while 78% of searchers on smartphones resulted in such purchases. Consumers appear to be more active in searching for products on mobile devices than on stationary computers. Mobile searchers are more likely to power sales, which is why more businesses are beginning to take steps to engage mobile consumers more aggressively.

Consumers are more likely to use mobile websites than applications when shopping online

mobile commerce - consumer evolutionThe report shows that approximately 7 in 10 consumers prefer mobile websites over applications when they are shopping online from their smartphones or tablets. Notably, mobile websites are more favorable among tablet users. This has to do with a tablet’s larger screen, which makes navigating a mobile website easier and more enjoyable for a consumer.

Electronic coupons are successful in promoting mobile commerce among consumers

The report also notes that 75% of mobile consumers make use of electronic coupons when t hey are shopping online. These coupons are issued by retailers as an incentive for mobile shopping. Sometimes, these coupons are part of loyalty programs that are specifically designed with mobile commerce in mind. Electronic coupons have proven that they are quite effective at encouraging mobile shopping, helping retailers find more success in the mobile commerce field. Notably, the majority of mobile transactions are made during the holiday season, where consumers use their smartphones and tablets to avoid long lines at retail stores.