Tag: smartphone payments

Mobile payments device rumors from Amazon are fizzling out

Although it wasn’t very long ago since the tech speculation blogs couldn’t stop talking about the card reader, it may be gone.

Amazon, like Apple, Google, and other tech giants, is always a beloved topic for the technology rumor mill and, until recently, it was strongly believed that the online retailer was in the midst of developing certain devices above and beyond its Kindle tablets and e-readers, including a mobile payments gadget.

The speculations about that particular machine, however, have begun to fade, across the map.

Although it was difficult to read the Amazon headlines over the spring and summer and not find a new update of some form regarding a mobile payments card reader from the company, it seems that the attention has been turned away from that type of device and is now looking into a smart-watch, a smartphone, or even a video game console.

This suggests that there won’t be much more to say about that particular mobile payments device.

Amazon mobile paymentsDespite all of the hype, excitement, predictions, and claims backed by “official sources”, it looks as though any chance that these mobile payments card readers from Amazon will come to reality is all but gone. Even if that is something that Amazon may investigate in the future, it doesn’t look as though such an idea is anywhere but on the back burner, at the moment.

At the same time, Amazon is still reportedly planning to use an app and mobile payments to be able to sell physical products. The in-app purchasing strategy is well on its way and has gained the company a tremendous amount of attention over the last while not only from tech experts, but also from app developers.

According to a new report, the application programming interface (API) has been in the market for some time now, regarding the in-app purchasing at Amazon. At the moment, this gives consumers the opportunity to purchase digital content, such as expansion packs, in-game currency, and electronic versions of books and magazines.

As this technology has been greatly successful, purchasing and mobile payments within an in-app experience will soon be making its way to the physical products environment, as well.

Mobile payments test to be launched by banks in the Netherlands

The trial is scheduled to run for three months in order to investigate its potential successes.

A number of banks in the Netherlands, including Rabobank, Amro, ING, and ABN, are working with MasterCard, the city of Leiden, and KPN (a mobile operator), in order to launch a new mobile payments program.

According to a news release, it will involve the participation of 150 different businesses in the city.

The mobile payments trial will also include 1,000 customers. It started on September 2 and will be carefully monitored by all of the involved parties to examine its potential in the country. In order to help to prepare for the program’s soft launch, UL, a security transaction provide, gave its assistance.

Participants in the mobile payments trial will be provided with the technology they need to use it.

mobile payments and bankingThese 1,000 individuals are being given free Samsung Galaxy Express devices that have their own banks’ app pre-loaded for their use. This helps to make sure that the participating banks, city, and other organizations will know that the participants have the necessary devices and applications to be able to use the mobile payments transactions when they want to.

According to the partners within the news release, “An extremely varied selection of businesses are taking part, ranging from smaller shops to large retail chains, including department stores, supermarkets, retail outlets and bars and restaurants.” This will help the organizations to be able to gain a better understanding as to when and where the mobile payments are being used by the participants in the trial program.

It was also pointed out that the Dutch railway company, NS, as well as the shops within the city’s railway station will also be taking part in the introduction of the mobile payments solution. The news release explained that “After the introduction period, each bank will determine individually whether, and how, it will offer this form of payment to customers.”

Many countries are beginning to make broad scale efforts to introduce mobile payments and encourage the use of these transactions so that they can take even greater steps toward cashless societies.