Tag: digital commerce

Mobile payments platform from Apple may be coming soon

| July 28, 2014

Company may be preparing to launch its own payments platform in fall this year

Apple may be preparing to launch its own mobile payments platform alongside the iPhone 6 this fall. The company has been meeting with various prominent payment organizations that have ties to the mobile world and rumors are beginning to circulate regarding Apple’s plans for mobile shopping and a new era of commerce. The company has already been testing a type of mobile payments service in Japan through its iTunes and app stores.

Apple approaches digital commerce with caution because of security concerns

Apple has been slow to enter into the digital commerce space, largely due to concerns regarding security and the lack of technology capable of meeting the company’s high standards. There had been rumors suggesting that the iPhone 5 would be Apple’s entry into the mobile payments space, but this was not the case. The company had opted not to make use of NFC technology, which had been the primary technology through which mobile transactions were made. This technology is now losing ground as the commerce world begins to evolve.

Company forms partnerships to tackle challenges in a changing field of commerce

mobile payments - AppleApple has been partnering with various organizations to develop a better understanding of mobile payments. The company has also been taking mobile security much more seriously. The iPhone 6 will have a more robust biosensor, allowing people to use their fingerprint as a form of identification. This sensor is likely to be incorporated into Apple’s mobile payments venture, as it will add another layer of security to transactions and help keep consumer financial information safe.

Demand for mobile payment support is high among iOS users

There has yet to be any definitive announcement of Apple’s mobile payments plans, but the company has shown strong interest in offering its customers a way to pay for goods and services using little more than a mobile device. Many iOS users have been calling for mobile payment support for some time, praising companies like Google for introducing services  that support mobile shopping on Android devices.

London’s public transit is growing more accommodating of mobile payments

| July 9, 2014

Transport for London introduces new rules barring cash payments for bus fare

Those using public transportation in London will no longer be able to pay their bus fair with cash. Transport for London, the city’s public transit authority, has begun implementing new rules that bar bus drivers from accepting cash, meaning that passengers will have to make use of prepaid cards or concessionary tickets. This also open the way for the use of mobile payments, allowing travelers to pay their bus fare with nothing more than their mobile device.

Mobile commerce and public transit are beginning to grow more closely together

Mobile commerce and public transportation synergize well. Digital payments are often praised for their convenience, allowing consumers to purchase goods and services relatively quickly. This is why mobile commerce has become quite popular among commuters, as it allows them to make purchase wherever they are and at any time. Because so many people have mobile devices, the idea of combing mobile payments and public transportation seems natural.

New rules are not likely to affect the majority of those making use of London’s buses on a daily basis

Mobile Payments - London TransportAccording to Transport for London, the majority of consumers will be unaffected by its new rules. An estimated 99% of people using the city’s buses already pay their fare through the use of prepaid cards or tickets. These rules are being considered another step in London’s ongoing “payment revolution,” which is personified by those using alternative payment methods and abandoning cash. The demand for mobile-centric payment services is on the rise as well, with more businesses opting to support mobile commerce alongside more traditional forms of commerce.

New service introduces more convenience to the public transportation system

Transport for London has also introduced a new service that is designed to make public transportation more convenient for people throughout the City. The One More Journey service allows people to make one more trip if they do not have enough money on their prepaid cards to cover bus fare. Some 44,000 people have benefitted from this new service since its introduction in June.