Tag: apple

Google launches new mobile payments service in the UK

| February 4, 2015

New services that allows people to send money over email comes to the United Kingdom

Google has launched a new payment service in the United Kingdom. Those using Gmail will be able to send money to their friends and family via email using this service. The service was launched in the United States last year and has enjoyed modest success, utilizing the Google Wallet infrastructure. Google Wallet is the company’s mobile payments service, which has managed to gain some momentum among consumers that are interested in mobile commerce.

Mobile payments continue to gain popularity in the UK market

Mobile payments have begun to gain momentum in the United Kingdom. Many consumers have expressed interest in shopping for and purchasing products from their mobile devices, seeing it as a more convenient way to shop. Most mobile payments are conducted online, though a growing number of retailers in the UK are beginning to accept mobile transactions in physical stores. New mobile payment services are becoming available at a relatively rapid pace, making mobile commerce one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK.

Those with Google Wallet accounts can now send money via email

mobile payments - GoogleGoogle users will also need a Wallet account in order to transfer money over email. Those receiving funds in this way will not have to have to Gmail account, but they will need to create a Google Wallet account before they can access these funds. Google Wallet must be linked with a bank account in order to work and functions in a way that is similar to traditional payment cards. The service is available only to Gmail users that are 18 years old or older.

New service could help Google compete with Apple in the future

The new service is currently only available for the desktop version of Gmail. Google Wallet, however, is available for mobile devices and can be used to send and receive money. Google’s new service may provide it a stronger foothold in the UK mobile commerce space, especially as Apple prepares to launch its own mobile payments platform in the country in the near future.

Apple may be winning the mobile payments battle

| February 3, 2015

Apple Pay continues to gain momentum among consumers and businesses alike

Apple may be winning the war of mobile wallets. The company launched its new Apple Pay service three months ago and has already managed to make a significant impact on the mobile payments space. Apple has managed to beat other services in terms of mobile payments volume, despite these services having been around longer. Apple Pay has found success because of numerous reasons, one of which has to do with how secure the service is.

Apple Pay may be the most secure mobile payments solution currently available

Security has become a major issue in the digital world. Recent data breaches that have struck companies like Target and Sony have highlighted the dangers that exist in the online space. Mobile payments are also at risk, because services like Apple Pay deal in trafficking financial information. As such, malicious groups have taken interest in mobile platforms, seeking ways to take advantage of consumer information. Apple Pay has managed to offer a secure solution for those that are interested in mobile payments.

Biometric technology helps Apple protect consumer information from exploitation

Mobile Payments - Apple iPhone 6Apple Pay has become one of the most secure mobile platforms currently available. The service makes use of biometric technology, which allows transactions to be authorized using a fingerprint. This has fostered more confidence among consumers and has helped Apple Pay gain more favor. Though the service is considered very secure, there are some issues that have slowed its adoption among consumers.

Limited support for cards and banks counts as a detractor for Apple Pay

Apple Pay supports a limited number of card types and banks, which makes it impossible to use for some people. Corporate cards are also not supported, which limits the service’s appeal to enterprise customers. The service is still quite young, so Apple may choose to add more support for various card types in the future. Currently, however, this limited support serves as a detractor when compared to other mobile payments services that are available from companies like Google and PayPal.