ING introduces new feature for its banking app that will make mobile payments more convenient
Dutch bank ING has introduced a new service that will allow its customers to make mobile payments using their voices. The service is being incorporated into its mobile banking application and is meant to serve as a more convenient way to make payments without having to enter a password. The service is designed to highlight the convenient nature of mobile payments, which are becoming more popular in the Netherlands as well as other parts of the world.
Voice activation will bring more security to banking app
ING customers can use the new feature of their mobile banking application to speak a short phrase, which will be used to activate a mobile transaction. Users will pre-record the phrase for the application and this phrase will be stored as a file on their mobile device. ING believes that voice activation will add another layer of security to mobile payments, as a person’s voice can be as unique as their fingerprint. This is due to differences in vocal cavities and how different mouth movements can affect the sound of the voice.
Speech recognition is becoming more popular in the mobile commerce space
Nuance, a biometric company, is providing the speech-recognition technology that ING is using for the new service. Similar technology is used by several other organizations in order to determine the identity of consumers. The U.S. government, for instance, use speech recognition technology in cases where agencies are handling tax issues. This technology is largely used to reduce the prevalence of fraud and has been relatively successful in doing so in recent years.
Biometric technology could help mobile commerce appeal to consumers
Making mobile payments more secure has become a major priority for banks around the world. These banks have become heavily involved in the mobile commerce space, but consumers have voiced their concerns regarding their financial information. Biometric technology is expected to put many of these concerns to rest, which may make mobile payments significantly more attractive to consumers throughout the world.
Project aims to bring Internet access to developing countries throughout the world
Facebook is working to expand mobile Internet access in developing countries. the Company has become involved with Internet.org, a project that works to make the Internet more accessible throughout the world. Over the past 12 months, the project has brought Internet access to more than 9 million people across 17 developing countries. These countries have limited Internet access due to the costs associated in running an expansive network. Facebook now intends to expand the mobile Internet through the project.
Facebook is adopting a greater focus on the mobile space
Facebook has a strong focus on the mobile space. The social media company has seen a dramatic rise in smartphone ownership throughout the world and many people are now beginning to use their devices to access the social network. Facebook now plans to offer free basic Internet service to mobile users in the 17 countries Internet.org has had an impact. Providing this service will allow more people to access the social network on their smartphones and other mobile devices.
Providing free Internet access could be a good customer acquisition tool
Chris Daniels, vice president of product for Internet.org, notes that the initiative is a customer acquisition tool. The initiative will provide mobile operators with the ability to provide consumers with a small amount of free data in the hopes that these people will be converted to paying subscribers in the near future. According to Facebook, the project has lead to a 50% increase in customer base for mobile network operators.
Expansion of mobile Internet may bring mobile commerce into the forefront
Facebook’s efforts may also lead to the expansion of mobile commerce. As many people are beginning to rely more heavily on using their smartphones to shop, they are using social networks in order to find out more information about products they are interested in. As the mobile Internet continues to expand, consumers are likely to use their access to shop online. Facebook has already begun investing in the mobile commerce space, hoping to provide consumers with the services that can help them shop online.