Category: NFC Technology

Hong Kong aims to make mobile payments more common

In many parts of the world, mobile payments have become more than just a passing fad. More consumers are becoming enamored with the idea that they can purchase products using only their mobile device, rather than physical currencies or credit cards. Hong Kong has become one of the most active markets in terms of mobile payments, with many of the consumers that have smartphones and tablets opting to participate in mobile commerce. For some, however, the concept of mobile payments can be somewhat confusion. In an effort to make mobile commerce more accessible, the King Kong Monetary Authority has launched a new initiative to spread awareness of mobile payments.

Study shows growing support for mobile commerce

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority recently finished a study concerning NFC-based mobile commerce. NFC-based systems are currently the most popular mobile commerce platforms in Hong Kong, despite the relatively few NFC-enabled mobile devices that are available to consumers. The study shows that consumers are interested in NFC technology, but also mobile commerce platforms that do not use this technology. The study outlines recommendations concerning future mobile payments initiatives that may take form in the Hong Kong market.

Agency to work to establish NFC mobile commerce infrastructure

According to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the study has shown the need for an expansive, NFC-based mobile commerce infrastructure. In order to meet the needs of consumers, the agency will work to develop such an infrastructure and increase the availability of NFC-enabled mobile devices. This infrastructure will have a strong focus on NFC technology, but will also be accommodating to mobile payments that are not based on NFC so as to remain flexible to future trends that may emerge in the mobile commerce market.

Awareness may be key to continued success

The agency is also interested in raising awareness of mobile payments. Many consumers have shown interest in the idea of mobile commerce, but are not entirely sure how to participate. The agency will work to inform consumers how mobile payments work, whether NFC-based or otherwise, in the hopes of making consumers more comfortable with purchasing products using their mobile devices.

The country has started accepting these smartphone based transactions at certain locations.

PVR Cinemas in India have just announced that they have now rolled out the very first NFC technology based mobile payments system within India.

This launch was designed to occur simultaneously with the availability of the new BlackBerry 10 platform.

The latest BlackBerry 10 devices are NFC technology enabled, which means that consumers will be able to make the choice from among a larger number of smartphones with near field communication capabilities. Now, PVR Cinemas has given them a specific reason to desire this state of the art tech, which is because it will give them a greater number of mobile payments opportunities.

The chain of movie theaters first thought they would used the NFC technology for watching trailers.

However, it soon changed its mind and added NFC technology based mobile payments to its sights – and then to its app – so that consumers would have the ability to purchase tickets and refreshments through the use of BlackBerry 10 (BB10) smartphones while at the cinema locations.

The hope is that the app will become the heart of a PVR Cinemas loyalty program for its customers. That said, as of yet, it is available only to consumers who own a BB10 based Z10 device. That said, the cinema will be expanding this compatibility range in May when it will be releasing Android, iOS, and other platform versions of its app, including those based on older BlackBerry operating systems.

At the moment, the NFC technology payments can be made only through the use of a prepaid account. As of yet, debit and credit cards are not compatible with the app. Moreover, it has been released in only a few of the total number of PVR Cinema locations. The initial roll out included 15 of the most popular cinema locations of the chain. Depending on its success, many are expecting that the mobile payments will also become available in additional locations over time, particularly as the other versions of the app are released so that it can be used by a much broader number of consumers.