Tag: mobile commerce

Qualcomm increases support for NFC technology

Qualcomm, a leading developer of mobile computer chips, has been showing increasing interest in NFC technology in recent months. The company has developed some products that are NFC capable, but has largely served as an observer of the technology over the years. Now, Qualcomm has upgraded its membership in the NFC Forum, an industry association that promotes standards for NFC technology. The move signals the company’s growing favor of the technology and its capabilities in the mobile sector.

Company now part of the Board of Directors

In upgrading its membership, Qualcomm is now a part of the NFC Forum Board of Directors and will play a managing role in the association from now on. The company has a long history with the NFC Forum, contributing a wide variety of technical information on the capabilities of NFC chips to the association and its committees. Qualcomm believes that NFC technology is capable of driving seamless user experiences in the mobile space, as well as in other markets.

NFC technology beginning to expand beyond mobile payments

NFC technology is most commonly used in mobile commerce, but has promising prospects in other sectors. The technology could be used in marketing to great effect, as it is capable of engaging consumers and providing them with digital content quickly. NFC can also be used as an efficient form of information distribution and data sharing. Qualcomm and the NFC Forum are committed to seeing the possibilities of the technology flourish and see more attention in numerous industries.

NFC Forum to make use of Qualcomm technology and expertise

The NFC Forum is expected to benefit greatly from the technology that Qualcomm will provide as a member of the Board of Directors. Qualcomm will also participate in testing and certification programs that are launched by the NFC Forum. Qualcomm is investing heavily in the future of NFC technology, believing that it could be a revolution for various aspects of business that are becoming increasingly reliant on the mobile space.

Though this may have been possible for the first generation of mobile efforts, times have changed.

When retailers first started to discover that mobile commerce was going to be vital to their survival, many of them responded by using their standard websites and optimizing the same content and layout so that it would be compatible with the smaller screens and navigation requirements of mobile devices.

This was a strategy that was somewhat effective for a while, but the channel has evolved since then.

The world of mcommerce is traveling at a breakneck speed, and it is continually in flux. The more brands, companies, and marketers discover about what consumers are expecting from this channel and what is effective, the faster it grows. Now, the websites that were originally optimized so that their standard formats would fit on smaller screens are being found to be inadequate within the sector.

Simply repurposing regular sites for mcommerce just isn’t enough for the mobile consumer.

An mcommerce website should not simply be a cookie cutter copy of the site designed for e-commerce. Before the mobile version is released, it is vital for companies to determine what features are truly central for driving engagement, and to make those elements the heart of the smartphone and tablet experience. For example, store locators – which are often considered to be rather secondary on standard sites – are among the most important features of a mobile commerce enabled website, and should be placed front and center in many instances.

A site meant for a smartphone needs to be stripped down to its bare minimum while still providing a rich and engaging experience. Functionality, compatibility, load time, ease of navigation, and driving consumers to act are all critical to mobile. Unlike the PC experience, it is isn’t simply a matter of placing information in front of the consumer. It needs to appeal to the individual on the go, with quick and simple mcommerce options that will be highly relevant and appeal on a personal level. Companies must never lose sight of this perspective if they wish to get the most out of what the channel has to offer.