Tag: smartphone payments

Hong Kong residents now have access to new mobile payments service

A new mobile payments service has been launched in Hong Kong by Hang Seng Bank. The service leverages NFC technology to allow consumers to purchase goods from more than 1,000 outlets throughout Hong Kong. This service is one among several that have been introduced to Hong Kong in recent months, but Hang Seng aims to establish the service as a leader among consumers, a growing number of whom are demanding comprehensive and convenient mobile payments platforms.

Interest in mobile commerce rising among consumers

Hong Kong has long been an economic hub and home to tech-savvy consumers of all kinds. Consumers in Hong Kong have been very receptive of mobile commerce over the past few years, largely due to their interests in mobile technology and the high penetration of smartphones and tablets. These consumers particular favor online shopping, which is considered relatively convenient when conducted over a mobile device. Therefore, mobile payments have managed to establish a favored place with consumers.

Service leverages capabilities of NFC technology

The new mobile payments service is based entirely on NFC technology. That means that only NFC-enabled mobile devices can make use of the service provided by Hang Seng. These devices are relatively rare, but are becoming significantly more common with every passing month as device makers work to meet the demands of consumers. Currently, the most popular NFC-enabled device happens to be the Samsung Galaxy S III. Samsung recently released the Galaxy S4, which is also equipped with NFC technology, but this smartphone failed to perform up to the company’s standards in terms of sales.

NFC remains popular despite security concerns

Hang Seng believes that its mobile payments service will be well received among consumers. There are concerns regarding its use of NFC technology, however, due to how attractive this technology is to hackers. In the past, NFC technology has been explo

ited to access a consumer’s financial information. Such attacks have won NFC a fairly dubious reputation, but the technology remains one of the cornerstones of mobile payments.

These transactions have been added to the company’s Entertainment Network, as well.

Sony has just announced the introduction of mobile payments as a form of acceptable transaction for both the Sony Entertainment Network and the PlayStation Store, to help to increase the convenience of the purchases.

Users will now be able to add their purchases to their wireless operator’s account and pay it with their bill.

Anyone making a purchase at the PlayStation Store or the Sony Entertainment Network can now use mobile payments to add the expenditure to their wireless bill that is charged to them through their carrier. They can then pay that bill as they usually would. This new transaction is the result of a partnership between Sony and Boku.

This allows Sony customers to use mobile payments to top up their accounts at the PlayStation Store or on the Sony Entertainment Network.

These digital wallets can be refilled using mobile payments through Boku’s addition to the Sony partnership. It applies the operator billing function and is designed to be direct and simple to use. That said, this has not yet been confirmed through consumer feedback.

The mobile payments option is compatible with all of the major wireless network operators in the United Kingdom. Sony has stated that its new billing system can be activated either by way of the PlayStation Store on the PS3, or on the Sony Entertainment Network Account Management website.

To use it, customers will need to select their transaction option as mobile payments. They will then be asked for their smartphone number and will be required to confirm the amount that they’d like to add to their digital wallet via text message.

According to the vice president of Sony Network Entertainment Europe, Gordon Thornton, “We are always looking at new ways to give our customers more choice in terms of content, accessibility and payment methods, and are pleased to be able to offer the option of mobile operator billing, which are becoming more and more popular.” The top up fee added through mobile payments is added to the next monthly wireless bill of the consumer, or will be deducted from their top up credit if they are on a pay as you go plan.