Tag: location-based services

Mobile commerce may have a bright future

| March 27, 2013

Mobile Commerce Bright FutureMobile commerce is picking up momentum

Mobile commerce is growing rapidly and that growth does not appear to be slowing down any time soon. The current state of mobile commerce suggests a bright future, largely due to the proliferation of mobile technology and the perceived convenience of mobile payments. Indeed, mobile devices are beginning to become more popular than PCs. According to a study conducted by  the International Telecommunications Union, as of August 2012, more than 7 billion mobile devices were operating all over the world, exceeding the number of active PCs by three times.

Mobile sales to reach new heights in near future

A recent study from Abi Research suggests that mobile commerce will reach $119 billion by 2015. This is roughly 8% of the current e-commerce market. E-commerce is still considered to be a powerful force, especially in the retail industry, but mobile commerce is benefiting from increased exposure and a growing number of retailers interested in engaging mobile consumers in a new form of commerce. Another study by Forrester Research suggests that mobile commerce in the U.S., in particular, will reach $31 billion by 2016.

US mobile commerce experiences aggressive growth

In the U.S., mobile commerce is experiencing a magnanimous rise to fame. More consumers are beginning to become comfortable with the concept of mobile payments, making them more likely to purchase goods and services using their smartphones or tablets. Mobile traffic to websites is on the rise, powered by growing interests in the realm of mobile marketing. Location-based services are also playing a role in encouraging consumers to participate in mobile commerce as they are able to find stores and attractions more easily, especially while traveling.

Security may derail bright future

While the current state of mobile commerce does paint a bright future, the future is, of course, unknowable. There are many challenges that face mobile commerce that could derail the burgeoning industry’s future. The most significant of these challenges, currently, is security. Without adequate security, a consumer’s financial information is at risk of theft and exploitation. The security dangers inherent in mobile commerce have kept many consumers from conducting mobile payments.

Stori may be the next big location-based application

| January 6, 2013

Stori location-based mobile appEntrepreneurs come together to introduce Stori

A small group of entrepreneurs from Colorado Springs, Colorado, have been working on developing a new smart phone application that offers location-based services. The application is billed by the group as being the “Wikipedia for locations.” The application, called Stori, is designed to allow users to post photos, video, and other content to specific locations in order to document their experiences. These experiences can then be accessed by anyone that uses the mobile application.

Stori aims to begin public tests this year

The entrepreneurs — Dan MacFadyen, Justin Lukasavige, Taylor Holmes, and Justin Bergen — founded Stori in order to develop the application, which shares the same name as its developer. The location-based, social media application is expected to begin public testing in late February. Stori currently aims to attract some 600,000 users by the end of 2013. Stori also aims to raise more than $500,000 from angel investors in order to aid in the development process and pay salaries for the development and marketing staff. The project is currently being funded in its entirety by the small group of entrepreneurs that founded it.

Location-based applications gaining ground with consumers

Location-based applications have become widely popular with consumers. Many people have shown interest in using social media platforms to check-in to locations and share their experiences with their friends. Stori may be another way to do this, as it provides people to visit locations and witness the experiences people have had there. In this regard, the video content supported by Stori is likely to be the most successful.

Stori to connect with Google Places and Facebook

Once launched, the Stori application will be connected to the Google Places service. This will enable the application to tap into a vast reserve of location-based information. The application will be able to import and export content to social networking platforms. Users will be able to delay their posts for a certain number of hours for security purposes.