Tag: china

UnionPay to launch new mobile payments platform in China

| December 22, 2015

UnionPay and Powa Technologies team to expand mobile payments options in China

China’s UnionPay is entering into the mobile payments space. The bank, which is one of China’s largest financial institutions, has entered into a partnership with Powa Technologies, a company that has been involved in the mobile payments space for some time. Together, the two organizations will be working with one another in order to bring new solutions to consumers in China, which will bring more competition into the mobile payments sector and ensure the continued growth of this sector in the coming years.

Companies will launch joint venture in the Guangdong Province next year

UnionPay accounts for some 1.3 million credit and debit card users in the country and is also the world’s largest merchant acquirer, representing some 6 million merchants. Powa Technologies notes that the two companies are expected to launch a joint venture in the first quarter of 2016. This joint venture will be responsible for the launch of a new mobile payments platform, which will initially be available in the Guangdong Province, which has a population of more than 106 million, many of whom are beginning to rely on their mobile devices to shop and pay their bills.

PowaTag will be used for the new mobile payments platform

Mobile Payments PartnershipThe new mobile payments platform will be using technology developed by Powa Technologies, called PowaTag. The company is working with UnionPay to develop a special version of PowaTag, which will be more attuned to the needs of consumers in China. The platform will focus on the online-to-offline (O2O) market, which is generated some $47 billion in China alone during the first half of this year.

China continues to show itself as a leading mobile payments market

Mobile payments have experienced explosive growth in China, where large companies like Alibaba and Tencent have established a major lead in the sector. Foreign companies have been attempting to enter China’s mobile payments markets, but many of the country’s banks have proven to be resistant to their efforts. China is expected to continue growing as a leading mobile commerce market in the coming years, especially as smartphone penetration continues to grow.

Google and Apple to improve their mobile payments platforms

| December 18, 2015

Google aims to make changes to its mobile payments products

Google is expected to reveal plans to reform its mobile payments products at its annual developer conference this year. The company has been involved in mobile payments for some time, having launched Google Wallet in 2011. The Wallet was meant to serve as a way for consumers to pay for products online and in physical stores while also storing digital information from retailers and financial information. The product proved relatively unpopular, however, which lead Google to develop Android Pay.

Android Pay and Google Wallet will receive new features in the near future

Android Pay is expected to be the subject of reforms coming from Google. One of the changes the company is reportedly interested in making will allow merchants to accept credit card payments from within their mobile application, while also integrating support for loyalty programs. Google also intends to make further changes to its Wallet platform, reintroducing peer-to-peer payment options that will allow consumers to send money to one another directly through their bank accounts.

Apple also intends to make enhancements to its mobile payments platform

Google Wallet Mobile Payments CommerceGoogle is the not the only company planning to make changes to its mobile payments products, of course. Apple has also announced that it will be unveiling enhancements to Apple Pay. The company has been working to promote its mobile payments service quite aggressively, intending to bring the platform to other markets throughout the world. The enhancements to Apple Pay, which include support for loyalty programs coming from retailers, may make the platform more attractive to consumers, many of whom are becoming more interested in mobile payments as a whole.

Improved platforms will provide Google and Apple a competitive edge

Both Google and Apple are competing in the mobile payments field, which has become flooded with a wide array of platforms that have won the favor of consumers. These companies see great potential in this sector, especially due to the mobile activity being seen in countries like China. Improving their mobile payments platforms may give them the edge they need to establish footholds in these markets.