LevelUp reports growing interest from consumers concerning mobile payments
Mobile payments are gaining momentum in the U.S. More consumers are becoming attracted to the concept of mobile commerce, especially as new services become available to them. LevelUp, a mobile payments start-up, has been attracting a great deal of attention recently, reporting a major influx of new users coming from both the Android and iOS camps. Rising demand for mobile commerce services has sent many consumers scouring the online world looking for platforms like LevelUp.
LevelUp doubles user base
LevelUp has announced that its user count has doubled over the past four months, growing from 500,000 to 1 million users. The start-up provides mobile payments services based on the use of QR codes. The LevelUP application is capable of scanning these codes to instigate transactions from a mobile device. The start-up also offers a mobile commerce terminal system to merchants that allows them to process payments being made from a mobile device. On its surface, LevelUp appears to be no different from any other mobile payments platform, but it has taken measures to enthrall consumers with its various features.
Gamifying mobile payments pays off
LevelUp is unlike other mobile payments platforms in that it “gamifies” mobile commerce, effectively turning loyalty programs into interactive experiences. Users are able to unlock loyalty credit with their favored brands through the LevelUp platform. This approach rewards consumers that spend money through their mobile device, further encouraging them to do so in the future. The loyalty credits offered through LevelUp can be redeemed for discounts and other rewards from a consumer’s favored brand.
Interest in mobile commerce expected to continue growing
Mobile payments are becoming more prolific as more consumers get their hands on high-end smartphones and tablets. LevelUp is one example of the promising growth being seen in the mobile commerce sector. The start-up expects to see this growth continue well into the future, as consumers become more comfortable with the concept of paying for goods and services with their mobile devices rather than with physical currency.
Pricing disparity in mobile applications is gaining notice
The world of mobile applications is evolving. App developers are beginning to push the boundaries as new, more advanced mobile devices are introduced to the global market. These devices are governed by their operating systems, of which the most prolific are the iOS and Android platforms. Each operating system boasts of a devoted consumer base, which often clash against one another as the two flaunt the performance and capabilities of their favored platform. The disparity between the two platforms is becoming more apparent in the arena of mobile applications, however, and the divide separating the operating systems is quickly becoming one of cost.
SoundHound shedding light on pricing disparity
SoundHound is a simple instant music search and discovery application. It is not the first of its kind, but has become very popular with mobile consumers around the world. The application is available to both the Android and iOS operating systems and is used quite regularly by consumers in both camps. Mobile applications are typically cross-platform, but their universal nature is punctuated by the fact that they do not cost the same on every platform. This issue is becoming highlighted by the SoundHound platform, as well as many others that are available to consumers.
Differing costs resulting from business model experimentation
SoundHound is available on the Android for $6.99 through Google Play. On Apple’s App Store, however, it is available for $5.99. The price disparity is not gargantuan, but SoundHound is one among many mobile applications that do not have singular pricing across all mobile platforms. This is because developers are beginning to test various business models and pricing points in several markets. Notably, the SoundHound application is available for the Windows Phone operating system for free.
Experimentation may be a risky venture in the mobile applications business
Testing new business models and pricing points can be very risky when it comes to mobile applications. Pricing disparity can often confuse or enrage consumers, leading to heavy criticism and causing applications to fail in the market. SoundHound has not been free of this criticism, but has managed to avoid the prospect of failure. The app has also begun to highlight the fact that the economics of mobile applications continue to evolve and that no concrete business plan has yet emerged to create a standard in the mobile space.
