Mobile payments projects capture the attention of consumers
As mobile payments become more common, so too do the various trial projects that aim to spur progress in the mobile commerce field. Trial projects are important as they help expose consumers to the idea of mobile payments and let them experience the convenience that mobile commerce platforms offer. These trial projects are not solely for the benefit of consumers, of course, as the companies responsible for these projects have an opportunity to ensure that their mobile payments systems actually work.
Eftpos to launch new project in July
Eftpos, a commerce company based in Australia, has announced that it will launch a new mobile payments trial project in its home country in July of this year. The trial project is associated with an overarching partnership the company has with C-SAM, another company invested in the mobile commerce field. The project itself will promote the use of NFC-based mobile payments systems in Australian stores, which will be used to facilitate transactions from consumers as they make small purchases.
Mobile payments projects to make use of NFC technology
NFC technology is often considered one of the pillars of the mobile payments world. The technology is chiefly responsible for supporting mobile transactions as it is capable of transmitting and receiving digital information over short distances. NFC technology has recently been attracting criticism due to concerns regarding mobile security. While the technology can be used for mobile payments, it can also be targeted by hackers to access a person’s financial information. Eftpos, as well as the other companies invested in mobile payments, has made security a top priority.
Etfpos eager to accommodate consumer needs
Eftpos represents more than 80% of the daily transactions made in Australia. The company has a strong interest in mobile payments due to the changing interests of consumers. Those with mobile devices are beginning to demand new commerce services in order to accommodate their needs. Eftpos is well positioned to meet these needs and believes that mobile payments may soon replace traditional forms of commerce in the future.
Report highlights growing mobile commerce initiatives
The Mercator Advisory Group, a market research and analysis firm, has released a new report concerning global mobile commerce initiatives. The report, titled “Global Mobile Retail Payment Initiatives 2013,” aims to shed light on NFC-based mobile commerce and how it is being used in the retail industry. NFC technology has long been a pillar of the mobile commerce field and the technology continues to see strong support in several industries despite the security and efficiency concerns that surround it.
NFC continues to receive criticism
The report notes that there are a growing number of pilot projects concerning NFC-based mobile commerce emerging around the world. In the telecommunications sector, companies responsible for the making of smartphones and tablets are beginning to give their new devices NFC capabilities in order to accommodate the interests that consumers have in mobile commerce and close proximity data sharing. While the report shows that NFC technology is seeing strong progress around the world, the technology continues to be criticized by several of the companies and organizations that are most involved in mobile commerce.
Mobile security concerns surround NFC technology
NFC technology is used to facilitate mobile transactions. This is done by transmitting a consumer’s financial information. This information can be intercepted with relative ease or otherwise stolen from a mobile device by exploiting the capabilities of NFC technology. Companies like PayPal, which has a strong interest in mobile commerce, suggest that NFC technology is simply not secure enough to keep a consumer’s financial information safe. Moreover, the technology may not be adequate of supporting a massive mobile commerce network, leading to efficiency problems.
Small retailers show strong support for NFC-based mobile commerce
While NFC technology may be receiving some dubious attention, the technology is showing promising signs of adoption from small retail businesses. These businesses do not have the same financial clout of their larger counterparts, but must still accommodate the interests of consumers. As such, mobile commerce is gaining ground with these retailers, and NFC technology has been the best solution available to them.
