Tumblr brings a new feature to its mobile app that may be welcomed by its users
Prominent social media network Tumblr is introducing a new feature into its mobile app. The company has been showing some interest in mobile commerce in recent months, but has not yet made an official entry into this sector. The new feature for the mobile app may change that, to some extent, as it will allow mobile users the ability to purchase products from affiliated organizations.
New feature will allow users to shop for products online by clicking buttons supported by retail sites
The Tumblr app will now support Buy, Pledge, and Get Involved buttons, which will be shown when a user links to certain sites, such as Etsy and Artsy. These buttons provide users with a way to look at products offered on these sites and, if interested, purchase these products. The buttons are also used to link to sites like Kickstarter, which offer a chance to fund projects that consumers may find interesting. These projects can range from game development and comics to clean energy.
New feature is only available for Tumblr’s mobile application
Currently, Tumblr’s new buttons are only available for its mobile application. The company has been testing the buttons since December of last year and claims to have seen a significant amount of interest from app users. The company has not yet announced plans to expand the buttons to its web users, but that could change in the coming months, depending on the success of the latest testing phase. Tumblr has not confirmed which companies it has partnered with for the new initiative.
Social media companies are becoming more involved in the mobile commerce space
Mobile commerce has become a powerful force in the social media space. Several companies are taking steps to make it possible for their users to shop for and purchase products on their social media platforms. This has lead to the rise of social commerce, and social media companies are beginning to play a larger role in the retail space than they already did.
Federal Reserve takes note of the growing prominence of mobile payments throughout the country
Mobile payments are catching on in the United States. According to information from the Federal Reserve, more people are using their smartphones to manages their funds than ever before. Doing so represents a convenient way to conduct commerce, as mobile devices can be used anywhere and at any time. The Federal Reserve has made note of a spike in mobile banking from 2013, with more people opting to manage their bank accounts online from a smartphone or tablet.
Smartphone users are showing favor for mobile banking and mobile commerce in general
According to the Federal Reserve, 39% of smartphone owners are actively using a mobile banking application, an increase from the 33% of consumers that did so in 2013. The agency has also made note of an increase in mobile payments in 2014. The agency’s information shows that 22% of smartphone owners made a mobile payment in 2014, up from the 17% of mobile consumers that did so in 2013. Notably, the vast majority of those that did make a mobile payment did so by using QR codes, which have become a very powerful mobile commerce tool.
Banks are seeing more mobile activity thanks to new payment services that have been launched recently
Banks in the United States expect mobile banking and payments to gain popularity. One of the reasons more consumers are showing interest in mobile payments has to do with the launch of new services, such as Apple Pay. Most of the country’s major banks signed up to support Apple Pay when it launched in October of 2014, and many have seen an increase in mobile payments activity since then. According to Apple, $2 of every $3 spent across Visa, MasterCard, and American Express networks is being made through Apple Pay.
Better security features are making consumers more comfortable with the concept of mobile payments
Mobile payments are expected to continue gaining traction throughout the United States. Consumers are becoming less wary of mobile commerce as services become more secure and capable of protecting their financial information.
