Tag: mobile payments

Mozido acquires major stake in promising mobile commerce firm

| December 23, 2014

Mozido now holds majority stake in CorFire

Mozido, a mobile commerce firm that has been gaining more fame in recent months, has taken up a significant stake in CorFire, another mobile commerce firm that specializes in point-of-sale systems. The agreement between the two companies will change Mozido’s name to Mozido CorFire Inc. Financial details of the deal have not yet been released to the public, but some speculation suggests that Mozido has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into CorFire.

CorFire had been owned by SK C&C, which now has a minority stake in the mobile payments firm

CorFire had originally been wholly owned by SK C&C, the IT service division of SK Group. The company had existed as one of South Korea’s major investments in to the mobile technology space of the United States. SK C&C will continue to hold a minority stake in CorFire, though Mozido will hold a greater sway over the company’s operations and its potential future.

Mobile commerce continues to flourish in many prominent markets throughout the world

Mobile Commere - AcquisitionMobile commerce has become quite popular throughout the world. Many consumers are using their smartphones and tablets to purchase products online, but there is still relatively little support for in-store mobile payments. As consumers become more mobile-centric, the demand for in-store payment systems that accept mobile transactions is growing rapidly. Companies like CorFire aim to accommodate this demand by providing retailers with the technology they need to engage mobile consumers. Mozido is well situated to assist in this endeavor.

Mozido helps retailers embrace the mobile space with its agnostic technology and services

One of Mozido’s major victories in the past is convincing traditional retailers to begin implementing mobile commerce services. The company has helped the retail industry become more mobile friendly, and it has managed to avoid some of the challenges associated with competition by being agnostic regarding payment platforms. Mozido supports mobile payments made from any platform, allowing its clients to embrace their favored payment method without having to worry about whether or not it is supported by the company’s technology.

Mobile payments face more scrutiny due to lawsuit against Sprint

| December 22, 2014

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau files a lawsuit against Sprint

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Sprint, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States. The lawsuit accuses the company of illegally processing charges through a third party. This marks the first time that the agency has pursued legal action against a telecommunications company and the lawsuit is also bringing more scrutiny to the mobile payments space.

Mobile payments are becoming more favored among consumers that need to pay their bills

Mobile payments have become quite common among consumers. Many people are opting to pay their phone bills and other charges with their mobile devices rather than pay these charges on a home computer. The agency claims that Sprint has allowed third party vendors to place “tens of millions of dollars” in illegal charges. The agency also suggests that Sprint has ignored consumer complaints regarding the matter, collecting money from third party vendors without cause. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is now seeking court approval to force Sprint to refund money to consumers and pay fines associated with its alleged actions.

Sprint may not have properly monitored its third party vendors from 2004 to 2013

Mobile Payments - LawsuitAccording to the federal agency, from 2004 to 2013, Sprint outsourced payment processing for digital purchases, such as games and other mobile applications. The agency claims that many consumers were not aware that they would have to pay for these applications because of hidden charges. Sprint is accused of failing to properly monitor its third party vendors and stop them from charging consumers over their mobile devices.

Mobile commerce is falling under more scrutiny due to the actions of third party merchants

The mobile commerce space may face more scrutiny from government agencies, depending on how the lawsuit plays out. Potentially malicious activities from some online vendors has shown the need for more regulation in the mobile payments sector. Because mobile commerce is still so new, federal lawmakers have had trouble forming regulations and standards that would govern this emerging market.