Mobile Payment
Mobile payment describes a cashless form of payment that is being used more and more frequently. At least one of the parties involved in the payment process uses mobile technology to initiate, authorize or execute the payment. Today, smartphones and tablets are the main devices used for mobile payments. But even in the past, it was possible to pay with a cell phone. Billing was done via the cell phone bill. With amounts between 0.01 and 5 euros, these were often micro payments. This was mainly used to pay for goods and services from the mobile communications segment, i.e., ringtones, pictures, and the like.
Cashless payment increasingly popular
With the establishment of smartphones, new opportunities for mobile payment opened up, so this area was further expanded. Soon, billing via the phone bill was no longer practical. Since, on the one hand, online shopping is becoming more and more important and, on the other hand, more and more people own smartphones, it is the logical consequence to make purchases with mobile devices cashless. Thanks to mobile payment, goods and services purchased online can be paid for and used immediately. Various providers offer different systems for mobile payment. With the well-known payment service provider PayPal, for example, payments can be instructed not only from the computer but also via the smartphone. In addition, there are other variants for cashless mobile payments:
- Aperto Move is used to pay for online services and is debited via the phone bill.
- GO4Q is based on the use of QR codes. PIN entry is required. When registering, a payment method is stored and purchases are settled via this.
- The Mpass payment system was founded by O2 and Vodafone, and quickly taken over by Telekom. O2 was the first provider to start offering Mpass based on NFC in 2012.
- Veropay is an Austrian system and also requires registration and deposit of payment data. After entering a PIN, the system generates a barcode that can be scanned for payment at the checkout.
Various systems to counter security concerns
Although smartphones are difficult to influence from the outside, many consumers fear that their data is not secure during mobile payment. Mobile payment providers address these concerns by offering various procedures that ensure the security of payment transactions. Aperto Move, for example, offers the option of tracking completed transactions online and filing a complaint in the event of misuse. Mobile payment systems based on NFC (Near Field Communication) use so-called connection-based transmission, which is considered secure against third-party interference. Providers such as PayPal or Veropay, in turn, also do not store any account data on the mobile device. The user must authorize himself by entering a PIN and a user name in order to use the payment service.
Optimized display for mobile devices
To ensure that websites are also used on mobile devices, it is essential to have a responsive web design that takes into account the display characteristics of the mobile devices used. Only if the page size and navigation automatically adapt to the customer’s smartphone will he or she stay on the page and take advantage of the offered service. High-quality payment systems and modules for mobile payment take this into account and offer displays that are optimized for the smartphone.
