The Fancy gaining momentum as a mobile commerce platform
There is a new social shopping network that is rising to prominence on the back of mobile commerce. Thing Daemon, a social business company founded in 2010, runs a Pintrest-like shopping website called The Fancy. In late October, The Fancy raised more than $26.4 million from investors interested in the concepts of social and mobile commerce. Thing Daemon also added former American Express vice chairman Ed Gilligan to its board of directors, further boosting its presence as a breakout success in the mobile commerce space.
Users can make purchases through website and application
The Fancy allows consumers to browse an extensive database of objects, compiled by Thing Daemon. Users are able to tag the objects they like so they can be found easily at a later date. When The Fancy first began, it was nothing more than a site where people could share the items they liked. In February 2012, however, all that changed when the ability to purchase items was added to the website and its subsequent mobile application. In a few short months, The Fancy was accounting for more than $10,000 in daily sales. Now, The Fancy is doing $200,000 a week in sales.
Social and mobile commerce proves to be a potent mix
Though this is a small sum when compared to other sites in the same field, such as Fab, a design-oriented sales site, The Fancy has shown how the concepts of social and mobile commerce can lead to resounding and quick success. The Fancy is seeing most of its success in the mobile space, where consumers are eager to share the items they like with friends and family in a way akin to most common social networks.
Amazon and Apple show interest in The Fancy
In the wake of the success surrounding The Fancy, Apple and Amazon began showing extreme interest in the platform. Details concerning how in-depth this interest went have not yet been revealed, but both Amazon and Apple have taken notice of the popularity surrounding mobile commerce. These companies may be looking for a way to bolster their presence in the burgeoning industry and The Fancy may be the ideal platform to do so.
The Commerce Commission keeps tabs on pricing in wake of Vodafone deal
The Commerce Commission, an agency of the New Zealand government, has mobilized to keep tabs on pricing for calls between fixed line platforms and mobile phones. The move comes in the wake of a deal between Vodafone New Zealand and TelstraClear, in which Vodafone acquired the latter party. The Commerce Commission is poised to keep an eye on the pricing schemes coming from Vodafone, as well as other telecommunications companies operating in the country. The agency has already imposed lower prices on calls in several mobile networks.
Regulator preparing to keep track of mobile commerce
Though the regulator is poised to take action if it detects some form of foul-play in terms of call pricing, the Commerce Commission is also keeping an eye on the growth of mobile commerce within the country. Mobile devices are becoming more common with consumers. As such, more people are being exposed to the concept of mobile commerce, whereby their mobile device is used to make payments for goods and services.
Youth of mobile commerce industry holds potential for malicious activity
Typically, mobile commerce platforms do not make money off of the applications they provide to consumers. Instead, companies charge a fee for each transaction processed through t he platform. Because mobile commerce is still a relatively young industry, there is potential for some companies to exploit consumers. It is this potential for malicious activity that has the Commerce Commission on its toes and ready to crack down on foul-play it may see.
Vodafone may be gearing up to push mobile commerce in New Zealand
Vodafone New Zealand is one of the largest mobile network operators in the country and is part of the larger Vodafone network. Vodafone has shown interest in mobile commerce in countries like Spain, but seems to have limited this interest to the European market. With TelstraClear now a part of the Vodafone network, the company may be gearing up for a push to bring mobile commerce to New Zealand, but such plans have not yet been set in stone.
