Tag: mobile commerce news

Mobile payments competition heats up in the retail space

| November 5, 2014

Apple Pay is experiencing resistance from retailers

The holidays are coming, and that may be a time when mobile commerce shines. Those looking to use Apple’s new payment service, Apple Pay, may find it impossible to do so, however, due to resistance from retailers. While several major retail organizations have partnered with Apple to support the launch of its new service, relatively few of these companies have taken steps to adopt mobile point-of-sale systems. These systems are meant to accept payments made from a mobile device, but they are somewhat unpopular because of their high cost.

Lack of incentives from Apple leads retailers to look for other solutions

Apple has not offered retailers an incentive to acquire mobile point-of-sale systems. Apple has also only offered modest support when it comes to providing training material for companies looking to support its new payment system. Moreover, there is an ongoing skirmish within the retail space concerning mobile payments, with many companies favoring different payment solutions. Apple Pay may experience more competition in the retail space in the near future as well.

Merchant Customer Exchange is developing its own payment system that could rival Apple Pay

Mobile payments competition heats upThe Merchant Customer Exchange, a prominent retailer consortium, has plans to offer its own mobile payment service next year. This service is to be linked to a consumer’s bank account, serving as an alternative to credit cards. The service is also being designed to track consumer purchasing habits, allowing it to provide them with discounts on products that they frequently buy. While this service will not be available until 2015, it could disrupt Apple’s plans to be the proverbial king of the hill in the mobile payments space.

Mobile is gathering more momentum throughout the retail industry, driven by consumer demand

Mobile payments have become quite important in the retail space. More people are shopping from their mobile devices than ever before, and the demand for in-store mobile payment support is growing. Retailers are scrambling to accommodate this demand, but many are having trouble doing so because of the wide variety of services and technologies currently available to them.

Tokenization may help make mobile payments more secure

| October 23, 2014

Bell ID has launched its new tokenization platform in order to support mobile commerce security

Bell ID, a payment credential management organization, has launched new software that could introduce more security to the mobile payments space. Security has been a problem in the mobile world for several years now. While there are many effective security solutions currently available in the mobile world, relatively few of these have been able to offer consumers interested in mobile commerce with the protection they need. Tokenization may be the solution to this problem.

Digital tokens remove the need for financial information

Tokenization is a relatively simple concept that involves replacing personal financial information with digital “tokens.” These tokens are used to authenticate a transaction and then are deleted after they have served their purpose. This removes the need for retailers and other businesses to access or store a consumer’s financial information, allowing for more secure in the mobile payments sector. Bell ID’s new Tokenization Manager software may help boost the popularity of tokenization.

Tokenization Manager to help businesses use digital tokens as a way to verify transactions

mobile payments and securityThe company’s Tokenization Manager has already seen significant use by various NFC-based mobile payment solutions. The solutions use digital tokens as a replacement for credit and debit cards, as well as other financial information. Many organizations believe that digital tokens will mitigate the prevalence of large-scale cyber attacks, such as those recently targeting Target and Home Depot. These attacks seek to gather and exploit financial information, but malicious groups will not be able to use tokens in any way.

As mobile payments become more secure, consumers and businesses will become more likely to participate

Tokenization is becoming so popular that companies like Visa and MasterCard have begun to support the concept. Tokens could finally bring a high degree of security to mobile commerce, which has suffered over the years due to lackluster security support. As mobile commerce becomes more secure, a greater number of people and businesses are likely to enter the sector. Several companies have delayed their mobile plans due to security issues within the mobile space.