Visa has high hopes for mobile payments in Asia
Visa has been showing a great deal of attention to the emerging mobile payments scene in Asia. The region has become one of the most active places in the world when it comes to mobile commerce, largely due to the aggressive steps that retailers are taking and the growing proliferation of smartphones and tablets. Visa is one among several financial service firms that have been working to establish a strong presence in the mobile payments sector of Asia and the company sees a great deal of promise in several of the markets located within this region.
Asian Pacific sees a great deal of mobile commerce activity
According to Visa, mobile payments are likely to thrive in markets where card payments are already very common. The company anticipates that mobile payments will see the most aggressive growth in Australia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which are quickly establishing themselves as hubs for ambitious mobile commerce projects located in the Asian Pacific. The company notes that Japan is also a likely place to see strong growth in mobile payments, due to the fact that many consumers in the country already use their mobile devices to purchase transit tickets.
Security remains a problematic issue
Consumers that regularly use their mobile devices have shown a great deal of comfort when it comes to mobile commerce. These people have been able to acclimate to the idea of mobile payments more easily than those that do not use their smartphones and tablets on a regular basis. There are universal concerns that exist within this sector, of course, the most prominent of which happens to be security. The threat of financial information being stolen and exploited has proven to be a prohibitive issue to many consumers throughout the world.
Asia could present lucrative opportunities to mobile commerce firms
Visa is not solely focused on Asia with its mobile payments endeavors. The company is currently involved in various projects that are taking place around the world. Visa’s primary interest is to make consumers comfortable with mobile payments, but notes that there is a great deal of promise in Asian markets that could prove lucrative to those that manage to provide comprehensive mobile commerce services to the consumers that are demanding them.
Visa and Monitise extend mobile payments partnership
Visa has announced that it is expanding its partnership with Monitise, a mobile payments company. The two companies have been working to expand the reach of mobile commerce throughout Europe and have been met with promising success thus far. Visa now aims to extend its partnership with Monitise through a new three-year commercial agreement. Per the agreement, the two companies will continue expanding into the European mobile commerce market, developing new mobile payments solutions that are designed with financial institutions in mind.
Mobile commerce is growing more popular among financial groups due to consumer demand
Mobile payments have been a relatively easy sell to consumers. Many people have shown their willingness to use their smartphones and tablets to purchase goods and services. The concept has been more difficult to sell to financial institutions, which are more concerned with the risks associated with mobile commerce rather than its convenience. Despite these concerns and a reluctance to support mobile commerce, many European financial institutions are seeing rising demand from customers concerning mobile payments. Thus, these organizations are beginning to take steps to accommodate the wants of their customers.
New solutions to be introduced to European market
Through the agreements, Visa will be able to make use of mobile technology developed by Monitise. This technology will be put to use in the development of new mobile payments solutions. As these solutions take form, Visa will help promote them to European markets as well as help ensure that these solutions are secure against the threats that exist in the mobile world. Visa and Monitise have already deployed mobile payments services to more than 3,000 banks and financial institutions in Europe and the two companies are expected to look to take advantage of this momentum.
Visa and Monitise seek to dominate Europe with mobile payments
Visa notes that the way people pay for goods and services is changing. More people have access to smartphones and tablets than ever before and these consumers are finding that mobile commerce offers them a convenient and safe way to make purchases. Visa and Monitise will work to continue establishing their commanding presence in the European market, hoping to fortify themselves against competing parties that are looking to do the same.
