Industry News
 |
 |
|
|
Monday, August 23, 2010 Editor's Note:This is the first in a series of stories on mobile banking, looking at adoption, types of services, emerging technologies and how institutions are overcoming security concerns. Mobile technology - it offers new opportunities for financial institutions to expand banking services and enhance the user experience.But the U.S. financial industry's adoption of mobile has been relatively slow. Estimates for the number of U.S. banks and credit unions currently offering mobile banking-- via SMS/text, WAP/browser-based, downloadable applications or a "triple-play" combination of the three -- are hard to nail down. IDC Financial Insights in July reported that U.S. consumer adoption of mobile banking nearly doubled from 2008 to 2009, with SMS/text banking being the most popular. The (unspecified) number of institutions offering mobile banking also had increased, according to IDC, which based its data on a 2009 survey of 1,008 U.S. adults. |
||
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Monday, August 23, 2010 A new iPhone application that lets consumers rack up reward points by simply walking in to stores could give banks and card issuers the foundation for a truly mobile loyalty program. shopkick, the name of the application and of the Palo Alto, Calif., startup that developed it, delivers discount offers to users once they have entered a participating retailer's store and awards additional points — or "kickbucks" — for scanning specified items or trying on clothing in a dressing room. Analysts said it would be relatively easy for banks to tap in to shopkick's app model. "I think, for [card] issuers, yes, there are definitely opportunities to tie their rewards capabilities with this type of solution," said Gwenn Bezard, a research director at Aite Group LLC in Boston. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, August 23, 2010 Sybase 365 is expanding its mobile commerce offerings with a mobile banking service that features multichannel functionality and multi-device support. The mBanking service includes device detection and renders logic to present mobile-optimized Web pages for iPhone, BlackBerry and Android devices. The platform is now available globally. “The key to this strategy is better bank and operator compliance support, and reduced operation and IT complexity,” said Andrew Mikesell, Boston-based mcommerce product director at Sybase 365. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, August 23, 2010 The program, to run from September through theend of the year in the New York area, is the biggest step yet by the two companies toward creating a "digital wallet" with a host of financial capabilities built into the latest, most sophisticated mobile phones. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, August 23, 2010 MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications has partnered with Hapinoy outlets to facilitate sending and receiving cash using Smart Money. Hapinoy is the largest sari-sari store chain with 10,000 outlets nationwide while Smart is one of the leading mobile communications company and mobile money provider. Recently, the two entities signed an agreement making Hapinoy a Smart Money Center. Starting next month, select Hapinoy outlet will enable people to loadfunds into, or withdraw cash from their Smart Money electronic wallets without having to travel long distances to banks or remittance centers. They may also easily load their SMART and Talk ‘N Text mobile phones at all Hapinoy stores. |
||
|
|
|
