Tag: google

Google introduces yet another mobile payments service

| March 11, 2016

Google launches Hands Free service, making transactions more convenient

Google is working to take mobile payments to the next level. The company has launched a new hands-free, voice activated payment application, which is currently being tested in San Francisco, California. Called Hands Free, the service is meant to make mobile commerce more convenient than it already is. It could also give Google and edge in the mobile commerce battle if it can find favor among consumers that often use their mobile devices to shop for and purchase products online and in physical stores.

Hands Free uses an assortment of innovative technologies

Hands Free makes use of a combination of technologies, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and location tracking technology to allow the service to communicate with point-of-sale systems. When this is done, consumers can confirm purchases by saying the phrase “I’ll pay with Google.” Hands Free is a standalone service with no association with Android Pay apart from also being developed by Google. The company believes that the voice activation technology powering Hands Free can make mobile payments more convenient than it already is.

New service could be risky for consumers involved in the mobile commerce space

While Hands Free makes use of innovative technology, it may also suffer from certain security risks. Theoretically, the voice activation technology could be abused by those that want to take advantage of consumer financial information. In order to combat this, Google has equipped Hands Free with numerous security features. One of these features will ensure that cashiers can verify the identity of the person using Hands Free before a purchase is finalized.

Google continues to search for a foothold in the mobile commerce market

Google has been fighting an uphill battle in the mobile payments space. The company entered into the market mobile commerce market relatively early with its Google Wallet platform. The Wallet was somewhat unpopular among consumers, leading Google to change its mobile commerce plans. Now, the company has Android Play, which is has become its flagship payment service that is set to compete with those coming from other major technology companies.

Consumers are more comfortable with their cards than with mobile payments

| March 8, 2016

Google, Samsung, and Apple may have trouble engaging consumers in various markets

Google, Samsung, and Apple have all entered into the competitive mobile payments field and are looking to compete with one another for the favor of consumers. These companies may be facing an uphill battle, however, as the majority of consumers are more comfortable using traditional payment cards than they are using mobile wallets. A new report from Juniper Research shows that the number of people involved in the mobile commerce space is growing, but consumers are still more willing to use their credit and debit cards.

Report predicts that 148 million people will be using mobile wallets by end of year

According to the report from Juniper Research, 148 million people throughout the world will be using their mobile devices to make a purchase in a physical store by the end of 2016. An estimated one in five point-of-sale systems in the United States now support NFC technology, which forms the backbone of mobile payments. The report also shows that there is a major uptick in the number of cards registered to mobile payment systems when they launch in new markets. When Apple Pay launched in China, some 40 million new cards were added to the service in just 24 hours.

Registering cards with mobile wallets does not translate into using new payment devices

Mobile Payments - Credit CardsConsumers registering their cards with mobile payments services does not mean they are actually using mobile wallets, however. The report from Juniper Research shows that just 22 million consumers in the United States have decided to transition away from traditional wallets to their mobile counterparts. Even with the availability of services that can be used with any point-of-sale system, consumers are still more comfortable with traditional forms of commerce.

Europe may be the most attractive market for mobile commerce

Companies participating in mobile commerce are becoming more focused on Europe, where payment cards have become more secure and NFC technology is already quite popular. Europe may serve as the tipping point for the mobile payments space, as consumers in this region are feeling more comfortable with paying for products with their mobile devices.