Tag: mobile commerce news

Apple teams with China UnionPay to launch new mobile payments service

| May 16, 2014

Apple and China UnionPay partner to boost mobile commerce

Apple has entered into a partnership with China UnionPay concerning a new mobile payments service. This may be a big move for Apple, who has been somewhat cautious with its participation in the mobile commerce field. Apple has been keen to avoid some of the pitfalls that its counterparts have fallen victim to with their own mobile commerce endeavors. In partnering with China UnionPay, Apple may be ready to break into the mobile payments space more aggressively.

New service to facilitate mobile payments at some 3 million locations throughout China

The new service will allow people throughout China to make payments from their iOS devices. Using the service, consumers can make payments at some 3 million “QuickPass” point-of-sale systems that are located throughout China. Apple and China UnionPay are also working together to develop a similar solution that will allow consumers to make mobile purchases in Apple’s physical retail stores operating in China.

Service made to comply with Chinese mobile commerce standards

mobile paymentsThe mobile payments service designed by the two companies complies with the standards issues by the People’s Bank of China. These standards are meant to regulate the growing mobile commerce sector throughout the country, adding stability and security for consumers and businesses alike. All mobile commerce services that are being launched in China are required to adhere to these standards but the standards themselves have been the subject of criticism among consumers and some of the country’s largest e-commerce organizations. The standards had initially placed a limit on how much money people could spend from their mobile devices, which would have significantly hindered the continued growth of mobile commerce throughout the country.

Apple is growing bolder with its mobile plans

Apple is growing more cavalier with its interests in the mobile payments space. The company has been eager to avoid the problems that currently exist in the mobile commerce market, taking time to develop solutions that circumvent these issues or solve them outright. Apple has been somewhat secretive with its plans concerning mobile commerce, but as these plans inch closer to fruition, the company may be growing bolder when it comes to mobile payments.

Mobile commerce spending has slowed during the first quarter of 2014

| May 15, 2014

comScore report highlights the state of the mobile market and spending among consumers

Leading market research and analytics firm comScore has released its latest report concerning the performance of mobile commerce in the U.S. The report highlights the first quarter of 2014, showing that mobile shopping and spending has increased by a significant margin over what was recorded during the same period of the previous year. More consumers are beginning to rely on their mobile devices in their daily lives. As this trend becomes more prominent, commerce is becoming more digital.

Desktop e-commerce grew by 12% during the first quarter of this year

According to comScore’s report, desktop e-commerce rose by 12% year-over-year during the first quarter of this year. This represents the fourteenth consecutive quarter where double-digit growth has been recorded in this sector. Consumers appear to still favor the shopping experience they have using desktop computers and these platforms are likely to remain quite popular with consumers shopping online for the foreseeable future.

Mobile spending has slowed by a modest degree due to the passing holiday season

Mobile commerce spending reportThe report shows that mobile commerce spending has slowed down somewhat from what it had been during the fourth quarter of 2013. Typically, spending is usually highest among consumers during the holiday season, with spending slowing down significantly afterward. Notably, however, spending has only slowed by a modest amount, which means that consumers are still using their mobile devices to shop online relatively frequently. This is being considered a good sign, especially in light of the softening mobile market and the general wariness that consumers have about mobile payments.

Mobile activity likely to pick up at the end of the year

The most popular product categories among mobile shoppers during the first quarter of this year were apparel and accessories, consumer packaged goods, sports and fitness goods, and subscription-based digital content. Consumers are expected to continue participating in mobile commerce somewhat regularly as the year goes on. Mobile spending is expected to again accelerate as the holiday season approaches, especially now than retailers are planning to engage mobile consumers more aggressively than they have in the past.