Mobile Payments Apps - changing our reality
During the past month, how many times you've been told that you are addicted to your smart phone? Well, I hear that all the time, and I accept it. Yes, people, I am completely and irreversibly addicted to my iphone, just like you - my fellow strung outs!
Don't I sound just like the rest of the phone addicts you know? I have my smarty close to me at all times. The ongoing conversation through text messages, with ten people at once keeps me busy throughout the day. The flow of texts stops when I check my inbox, open the facebook app, or snap a picture with the camera (then immediately text it to someone or upload it on facebook).
But listen, now we will have another excuse to never leave our phones. The next generation payments by smartphone are in the works, and being successfully introduced by Starbucks in major American cities and over 1000 Target stores. In order to use the system, a special application has to be installed on your phone to enable the merchant to charge your account by scanning a bar code on the display. Additional credit can be added by a credit card or paypal.
However, Starbucks is not the only company implementing this new technology . Soon you will be able to pay for your purchases at several approved merchants with the YesPay application which is now entering full speed the upcoming "Mobile Payment"market. This app also involves near field communication technology (NFC) which provides the platform for mobile payments to take place by enabling the exchange of data between different devices.
It seems that with time, this technology will not only play a major role in the contactless credit card payments mentioned above, but it will be used in transportation (instead of the transit card swipes), health care, social media, and smart objects - check out how this could change our every day life !!!
So fellow addicts, if NFC keeps developing at the speed it is evolving now, all we will need to grab when leaving the house, will be our smart phones. THEN, no one will have the right to tell us: "can't you just leave this darn phone at home?" :)
Sources:
Anna,
ReplyDeleteThe mashable.com link you provided really gets me wondering what the near future holds with respect to mobile payment systems. It's particularly interesting if going mobile can provide more benefits at less cost.
Perhaps the day is coming soon that cash won't be worth much at all until it's converted to "SmartMoney" and payable by phone.
Thanks for some sensible blogging!
Anthony
e-marketingforsensiblefolk.blogspot.com
It's amazing how technology is advancing so quickly! If I would have been told that this would happen about 5 years ago, I would have thought it would have been just a invention used in a Sci-fi film like Minority Report.
ReplyDeleteWhat you also mentioned about using it for other purchases besides paying such as transportation is so true. Imagine having all of our identification cards (license, health care cards, etc) all on our phone).
I myself am a phoneaholic, and can't leave my house without my phone. I feel like a part of me is missing. If it comes to having all our important identifications and cards their, then technically in the future I will be missing a lot.
Amazing what we have come up what people have come up with today.
Very interesting
Aileen
Welcome to the phoneaholic club Aileen! On the positive note - maybe we should start investing in NFC related stocks :)
ReplyDeleteThis type of technology could possibly eliminate carrying around a wallet or at least plastic credit cards and cash. Everything such as orders and payments can be made on the phone and become a new reliable method of making purchases. This way it is a lot safer for people who could be victims of robberies. There is no credit cards or cash to steal and the phone should have a password on it to protect the user. I believe this new technology could really turn our future generation into a new evolution of technology. Thank you smart phones.
ReplyDeleteBlackBerry User.... :)
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ReplyDeleteYou may be addicted but I HAVE TOO keep my I-phone open because I am a very important person and must be available at all times in case of a world crisis. The time I spend playing Suduko helps keep my brain sharp.
ReplyDeleteBut you do if a good point, if I could pay for dinner with my Smart Phone, Maybe my wife wouldn't make me leave it in the car.
Even though I don’t consider myself a phone addict the option of paying at Starbucks with my Smartphone is definitely innovative and practical.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I really would like to see the technology being implemented in many other fields that would make it more productive.
It will be a great idea for public transit, vending machines, paying for parking and even other things that most of us do not do every day such as renting a car, boarding an airplane, doctor appointments or making bank transactions. Since it has been implemented by a leader such as Starbucks I am sure that many other companies will follow just as you mentioned on your post. Hopefully, safety will also catch up and make it safe and secure.
Thanks Norberto,
ReplyDeletehere is the link on the safety features of the app actually, that I posted on Alexa's blog:
http://marketingstudentstoday.blogspot.com/2011/02/starbucks-mobile-card-app-major-flaw.html?showComment=1297635110156#c1461434642730705605