The coun
try has started accepting these smartphone based transactions at certain locations.
PVR Cinemas in India have just announced that they have now rolled out the very first NFC technology based mobile payments system within India.
This launch was designed to occur simultaneously with the availability of the new BlackBerry 10 platform.
The latest BlackBerry 10 devices are NFC technology enabled, which means that consumers will be able to make the choice from among a larger number of smartphones with near field communication capabilities. Now, PVR Cinemas has given them a specific reason to desire this state of the art tech, which is because it will give them a greater number of mobile payments opportunities.
The chain of movie theaters first thought they would used the NFC technology for watching trailers.
However, it soon changed its mind and added NFC technology based mobile payments to its sights – and then to its app – so that consumers would have the ability to purchase tickets and refreshments through the use of BlackBerry 10 (BB10) smartphones while at the cinema locations.
The hope is that the app will become the heart of a PVR Cinemas loyalty program for its customers. That said, as of yet, it is available only to consumers who own a BB10 based Z10 device. That said, the cinema will be expanding this compatibility range in May when it will be releasing Android, iOS, and other platform versions of its app, including those based on older BlackBerry operating systems.
At the moment, the NFC technology payments can be made only through the use of a prepaid account. As of yet, debit and credit cards are not compatible with the app. Moreover, it has been released in only a few of the total number of PVR Cinema locations. The initial roll out included 15 of the most popular cinema locations of the chain. Depending on its success, many are expecting that the mobile payments will also become available in additional locations over time, particularly as the other versions of the app are released so that it can be used by a much broader number of consumers.
Mobill teams with Sterna Security to promote mobile payments services in India
Swedish mobile commerce firm Mobill has announced that it will be establishing a new development center in India. The company has teamed with Sterna Security, a mobile security solutions firm based in India, to develop a new mobile payments system for the Indian market. India is quickly becoming a very attractive market in terms of mobile payments, due to the growing number of people that have access to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Mobill is interested in establishing a strong presence in the market to take advantage of the growing popularity of mobile consumers among Indian consumers.
Mobile commerce sees growing demand from Indian consumers
Mobile payments are considered a more convenient form of commerce for many people in India and consumers have been demanding for new commerce services in the country for some time. Mobill believes that the market is ready for a new generation of mobile payments solutions that can be used to purchase goods and services. Mobill is expected to put much of its efforts in the Indian market on the country’s public transportation system. The company claims that 80% of Sweden’s public transit operators make use of its M-Ticket service, which distributes digital tickets to commuters throughout the country in an efficient manner.
Security to be a major focus for Mobill
Security will be a major focus for Mobill, especially as the company looks to establish a foothold in the Indian market. Mobile payments are not just growing in popularity among Indian consumers, they are also becoming attractive targets for hackers. Mobile devices are beginning to traffic a large amount of financial information, which can be stolen and exploited by malicious parties. In teaming with Sterna Security, Mobill aims to address the mobile security concerns it has in regards to Indian mobile payments.
Mobill expected to compete with others in attractive Indian market
Because India has become a very attractive mobile commerce market, Mobill is expected to see competition from other companies looking to promote mobile payments services among consumers. Google is currently the largest competitor in the field of mobile commerce. Despite Google’s seemingly all encompassing presence, many consumers have shown their willingness to make use of mobile commerce services offered by other companies, which may bode well for Mobill’s future in India.
