Tag: united kingdom

Google launches new mobile payments service in the UK

| February 4, 2015

New services that allows people to send money over email comes to the United Kingdom

Google has launched a new payment service in the United Kingdom. Those using Gmail will be able to send money to their friends and family via email using this service. The service was launched in the United States last year and has enjoyed modest success, utilizing the Google Wallet infrastructure. Google Wallet is the company’s mobile payments service, which has managed to gain some momentum among consumers that are interested in mobile commerce.

Mobile payments continue to gain popularity in the UK market

Mobile payments have begun to gain momentum in the United Kingdom. Many consumers have expressed interest in shopping for and purchasing products from their mobile devices, seeing it as a more convenient way to shop. Most mobile payments are conducted online, though a growing number of retailers in the UK are beginning to accept mobile transactions in physical stores. New mobile payment services are becoming available at a relatively rapid pace, making mobile commerce one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK.

Those with Google Wallet accounts can now send money via email

mobile payments - GoogleGoogle users will also need a Wallet account in order to transfer money over email. Those receiving funds in this way will not have to have to Gmail account, but they will need to create a Google Wallet account before they can access these funds. Google Wallet must be linked with a bank account in order to work and functions in a way that is similar to traditional payment cards. The service is available only to Gmail users that are 18 years old or older.

New service could help Google compete with Apple in the future

The new service is currently only available for the desktop version of Gmail. Google Wallet, however, is available for mobile devices and can be used to send and receive money. Google’s new service may provide it a stronger foothold in the UK mobile commerce space, especially as Apple prepares to launch its own mobile payments platform in the country in the near future.

New trends power the growth of mobile payments in the UK

| January 28, 2015

Retailers are becoming more mobile-centric as a result of emerging trends

New trends are emerging in the United Kingdom digital commerce space. A growing number of retailers are beginning to focus their efforts in the online world, finding ways to make the shopping experience more convenient for consumers. As such, they have begun embracing mobile payments, which allow consumers to make purchasing from their mobile devices in physical stores and online. This move toward mobile-centric commerce is being encouraged by consumers that are beginning to rely on their smartphones and tablets more in daily life.

E-money is beginning to bring more convenience to the world of commerce

As consumers begin to base more of their lives on mobile technology, they are looking for ways to make their shopping experiences more convenient. This has lead to the emergence of e-money, which is the digital representation of their funds. For some, using electronic money is considered safer and faster than using physical forms of payment. Digital currency is also more easily managed by some consumers, which makes it a more attractive option than physical currencies. E-money is becoming particularly popular among those that favor mobile payments.

Biometric technology could help mobile payments thrive

Mobile Payments - biometricsBiometric technology is also becoming more popular in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. A recent survey from WorldPay suggests that 49% of European consumers are willing to participate in mobile transactions that are protected by biometric technology. This technology allows consumers to authenticate a transaction using their fingerprints or other biologic information, such as their voice. A growing number of retailers and banks in the United Kingdom are beginning to embrace this technology because of the security it can bring to the mobile payments space.

UK retailers want to mimic the mobile success of their US counterparts

These trends are likely to bolster the attractiveness of mobile payments in the United Kingdom. Many retailers in the UK have taken note of the success that their counterparts in the United States have found in their mobile efforts. Many of these retailers are following the example of those in the United States, making efforts to become more mobile-friendly.