Tag: mobile commerce news

Shopify launches new app to make mobile commerce simpler

| November 17, 2015

Shopify introduces Sello, making it easier for consumers to sell products in the mobile space

With more people entering into the mobile commerce landscape, some are finding shopping and making purchases with their mobile devices somewhat difficult. They are also finding it somewhat complicated to sell products in the mobile space. To resolve this issue and make mobile commerce somewhat simpler, Shopify has launched a new mobile application, called Sello. The app is free for both iOS and Android devices and is designed as a convenient way for people to participate in mobile shopping.

Sello aims to increase the convenience of mobile commerce, allowing more consumers to sell products

Sello is meant to allow anyone to create an online store, share the products that they find or offer through social networks, and make payments from a smartphone. Sello is not geared toward merchants that have significant comfort in the mobile shopping space, rather it allows a wide range of people to sell products in much the same way merchants do through Shopify’s primary platform. Shopify suggests that the average consumer has found it challenging to sell products online in the mobile space, but Sello may be able to change this.

Casual selling has been somewhat challenging for consumers in the mobile space

Mobile Commerce - New Mobile Shopping AppConsumers have long found selling products through conventional e-commerce platforms somewhat convenient. As mobile devices become more prominent, however, these sellers are beginning to focus more heavily on the mobile space. Finding convenient ways to accomplish this has been difficult, but Sello’s ability to interface with social networks could make mobile shopping and selling easier, allowing more consumers to participate in mobile commerce more often.

Shopify has taken note of the rise in casual selling

Shopify has a great deal of experience in the mobile commerce space, having provided many retailers with a wide range of services in the past. Sello represents a first for Shopify, which had been focused on established merchants for much of its existence. The rise in casual selling has lead Shopify into new territory, hoping to better engage consumers and make them more comfortable with mobile commerce as a whole.

Apple is looking to take another step into mobile payments

| November 16, 2015

Apple may be working with banks to develop a person-to-person payment service

Apple is reportedly in discussions with banks in the United States to develop a new payment service that would serve as a person-to-person platform. Such a system could further strengthen Apple’s position in the mobile payments space, where it has already established a strong foothold. While Apple may be in negotiations with banks, it is as yet unclear whether or not these organizations will be working with the company to develop this sort of person-to-person system.

Consumers are becoming more active in the mobile payments field

Many consumers in the United States are beginning to embrace mobile payments, but these consumers represent a relatively small portion of the country’s mobile audience. Should Apple acquire support from banks for this new initiative, it would be in a better position to compete with other organizations that have become involved in mobile payments. Apple Pay, which was launched a relatively short time ago, has managed to find some success, but still lags behind other payment systems in terms of adoption among consumers.

Demand for person-to-person money transfer services is rising quickly

Mobile Payments - AppleAs consumers become more involved in mobile payments, the demand for money transferring services is on the rise. Consumers want to be able to send money to their friends and family, a service that is featured in some payment systems that have already been well established. If Apple moves forward with its plans, its new mobile payments service is likely to be similar to PayPal’s Venmo platform, which has acquires strong support from a wide range of consumers.

How Apple will continue to generate revenue from mobile payments is uncertain

One of the concerns regarding the new service is how Apple will generate revenue through it. Apple Pay issues fees associated with every transaction being made, and these fees are imposed on retailers as a way to make the platform profitable. The new service may introduce fees on person-to-person money transfers, but Apple has offered any specific details concerning this. The company has not yet highlighted ways it could generate revenue through the service.