Absurd? Maybe not. Visa, MasterCard and AMEX and their peers are acknowledging a serious threat in the future: the Smartphone. All of these companies make their money by taking a very small percentage of every transaction that uses their services. But what if you could complete a transaction without their services? What if you could … Continue reading Can Visa, MasterCard and AMEX Become Extinct?
Bricks, Not Bits, Will Drive the Mobile Wallet
The most widespread misconception about potential of M-Commerce is that it will primarily be a way to shop online. But, online retail accounts for only about 4% of all retail transactions today, and will probably grow to about 8% by 2014. While the growth rate is impressive, the fact remains that brick and mortar retailers … Continue reading Bricks, Not Bits, Will Drive the Mobile Wallet
Your Wallet and the Basel III Accord
The fundamental issue of the credit markets today involves availability. That single issue affects you, me, the respective companies we work for, and everyone we know. If financial institutions are willing to lend, and lend freely, and we benefit. If not, capital becomes more expensive, and the growth slowdown occurs. True? Not entirely. We’ve seen … Continue reading Your Wallet and the Basel III Accord
Migration from the Wallet to the Smartphone: Barcodes
Do you carry any barcodes with you in your wallet? What about your keychain? Take a look and count all of the loyalty cards, membership cards, coupons, and all of the other places were a barcode me here. I found four in mine, and I have thrown them all away in lieu of one of … Continue reading Migration from the Wallet to the Smartphone: Barcodes
Bharti Airtel – Pioneers of a Successful Model
The story of Bharti Airtel Limited is the story of success and efficiency. What is the root of their success? Is their competitive advantage is sustainable? Is this a case of the best personnel, the best strategy, the best infrastructure, or something else? With competitors like Tata, and others, how does a mobile operator maintain … Continue reading Bharti Airtel – Pioneers of a Successful Model
Forbes and Gartner Weigh In on Mobile Security Issues
Recently, Darcy Travlos of Forbes published an article in the ‘Intelligent Investing’ column in which she delivered valuable and relevant insights to the Mobile Payments discussion. Here’s why: The main obstacle to mobile payments adoption in the United States is the “security” issue. Travlos begins her article with a reference to the Harris Interactive and … Continue reading Forbes and Gartner Weigh In on Mobile Security Issues
DIY CyberGuy with David W. Schropfer 