Posts filed under 'Business'
Amazon recently announced its Mobile Payments Service (MPS), which allows developers to add mobile payment functionality inside their mobile website or app.
The service consists of a set of APIs, and in addition to the 1-click buying feature that Amazon has pioneered, the service also allows for cancellations and refunds. In our view, this service should be interesting for mobile developers selling digital content, informational products, or those that would like to sell access to a service for a small fee (i.e. micro-payments).
The image below describes the basic user experience of a mobile site offering the MPS service to its users.
Image Credit: Amazon.com
Anyone out there using MPS today? Let us know your experience and whether your users are taking advantage of it!
Amazon Mobile Payments Service (MPS):
https://payments.amazon.com:443/sdui/sdui/business?sn=devfps/mps
November 4th, 2009
Zong offers a mobile payment service, allowing merchants, bloggers, social app developers, and almost anyone else producing content on the web, to accept payments via mobile phone. Customers need only provide their mobile phone number to make a purchase, which is typically for small pieces of content or niche applications.
Many Facebook and MySpace application developers have already found Zong, and while they take a larger cut of each transaction, the improvement in conversion rates typically far outweighs the higher fees.
Have you used Zong either as a seller or a buyer? What did you think?
Mobile Service:
zong.com
December 22nd, 2008
Yesterday’s stock market crash was like nothing I’ve ever seen. And at this point, nobody really wants to see the value of their portfolios, or what’s left of them.
But we all know we should. In fact, folks in the U.S. with IRAs with more than 20 years to retirement should strongly consider converting at least a portion of the portfolio to a Roth IRA. Since the the gains (if any) are likely to be so small right now, the tax hit is negligible.
But I digress. The point of this post is to show you where you see how the market is doing from your mobile browser. And CNBC is here to help. Use the link below to get to the CNBC mobile website. Just try not to throw your phone when you see the carnage.
Mobile Website:
mobile.cnbc.com
September 30th, 2008
For those that may be unconvinced on the penetration of the mobile web and mobile applications, watch this video from the TechCrunch/August Capital Mobile Web Wars roundtable. You’ll walk away all geeked up, ready to develop apps for the iPhone and maybe even Google’s Android platform.
And for those that still carry around a Motorola Razr, listen to the guy from CrunchGear!
Streaming Video by Ustream.TV
Read more about the event here.
August 1st, 2008
Most mobile websites we hear about tout their mobile web 2.0 features of geolocation, social networking, text messaging, mobilized twitter feeds, and user-generated HD video.
Today’s mobile website pitches workers compensation insurance. Yes, that’s workers compensation insurance.
Mobile Website:
workcomp.mobi
June 23rd, 2008
Did you know that people are sharing their personal financial picture for other people to provide feedback? The funny thing is, these users are improving their financial IQ, and it seems to be catching on.
Wesabe is a sort of financial intelligence sharing community for those seeking to improve their money situation. Targeted primarily for 20 and 30 somethings (many of whom have young children), users provide advice and information based on the financial situation of others.
Wesabe has garnered praise from leading publications, including Wired, lifehacker, and WSJ.
I wanted to highlight it here since they recently debuted mobile versions for the iPhone and for mobile browsers in general. There you will be able to view your recent financial transactions, and see what others in the community are recommending. Keep in mind that before browsing to the iPhone or mobile browser versions of the site, you must already have your Wesabe username and password.
Give it a try for yourself. And let us know what you think of the mobile version…
Wesabe Mobile Overview:
https://www.wesabe.com/page/mobile
Mobile Website:
http://m.wesabe.com (Wesabe username and password required)
Mobile Website (iPhone Version):
http://i.wesabe.com (Wesabe username and password required)
Editor’s note: Corrected spelling on 2/25/08. Thanks to Andre for the comment.
February 25th, 2008
As reported by MobileCrunch today, the folks behind the Wall Street Journal launched a mobile application now available for download.
This free application provides access to the latest business news from the Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch.com, and Barron’s, all on your Windows Mobile phone or wireless device. To see if your phone is one of the supported devices, see their list.
Now you can watch your Google stock reach $600 while waiting for your lunch!
WSJ Mobile App:
www.wsj.com/mobiledownload
February 6th, 2008
In case you have not checked lately, there are a host of mobile sites and services that are making everyday life easier for thousands of people just like us. To highlight just a sample, I compiled the following list of 71 things you can do from your mobile phone.
I wanted to make this interactive, so I temporarily left the links off of a few items. Why? So that we can learn from you and everyone else out there. If you have recommendations for what mobile sites or tools to use to accomplish any of the items below, leave a comment to this post and share your knowledge. After February 9, ten of the highest quality commenters will be sent a free MobileMammoth t-shirt, AND I will add the links to the remaining items in the list.
Happy mobile browsing…
71 Ways to Make the Mobile Web Work For You
- Use text messaging to solve a crime
- Confirm flight departure time en route to airport (mobile site)
- Play Brady Bunch Kung Fu!. (Sprint users only)
- Browse Flickr photos (mobile site)
- Call your spouse from your bank to confer on a new account (wait – you can’t do that at First National Bank in Chicago).
- Get a text alert when your Google stock reaches
$500 $600 a share
- Get an alert if your kid wanders off-campus
- Transfer money between your bank accounts
- Play music stored on your PC
- Listen to “The One Minute Manager” on audio book
- Prevent drunk driving (and drunk phone calls too)
- Get Radiated? (We hope not!)
- Use your phone as a modem for your laptop (great when you’re stuck in a hotel)
- Check the weather (mobile site)
- Cheat at chess (wait — don’t do that!)
- Go moblogging
- Get more done
- Watch a BoSox-Yankees game
- Play a Texas Hold ‘em tournament
- Pay your parking meter
- Watch a new music video
- Upload pictures & video to the Web in seconds
- Take Spanish lessons
- Over your messaging limits on your wireless plan? Send text messages, for free
- Better yet, send a comic message!
- Send map and directions directly to your cell phone
- Make your own mobile website
- Check your email
- Check your favorite blogs via Bloglines or Google Reader (both are mobile sites)
- Send a text message to your sister in Tokyo
- Send a video message to your spouse
- Play Madden NFL 08 on your cell phone
- Instant-Message your Mom on Mother’s Day
- Avoid the 5 car pile-up on your way home (best traffic site anyone?)
- Track your UPS package
- Check the TV listings
- Receive SPIN magazine on your mobile phone
- Locate your buddy
- Do a Yahoo image search
- Watch last night’s episode of Lost
- Listen to your favorite podcast
- Research a client on your way to a meeting
- Listen to NPR live (mSpot Radio)
- Watch highlights from the Olympics
- Do a Google search for your favorite mobile websites
- Watch a BareNakedLadies concert
- Listen to your local radio station
- Backup your Motorola phone directory
- Watch your favorite movie
- Phone stolen? Next time, Lock it
- Find a wifi hotspot
- Laptop crashed during a presentation? Run a slidehow from your mobile phone.
- Get injury alerts and win your fantasy league
- Find out your favorite PGA player’s tee time on your way to the Masters
- Try your hand at the NYTimes crossword puzzle
- Get NHL scoring updates by text message
- Get stock quotes on demand
- Get live score updates by selecting a sport here, then putting that RSS URL into FEED2MOBILE
- Update your fantasy line-up while shopping with your girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse
- Get tonight’s TV lineup
- Get your Maxim mobile fix (flash required)
- Get your soap opera fix
- Play ESPN Poker
- Play a scenario game
- Get your CEOExpress to go
- Make your own wallpaper for your mobile phone
- Text message your questions at 30,000 feet
- Get alerted when your child’s school closes early for snow (or any other reason)
- View a Google Map
- Access your GMail account
- Call your mom (Remember voice calls?!)
I hope you are able to find at least a few gems here that make your life a little easier. I worked on this list for a while, so hopefully all the links are still active!
As always, get your daily mobile website right here.
January 24th, 2008
There’s a small, but growing number of services that let you initiate a group conference call at a moment’s notice from your mobile phone.
One I ran across recently was from Lypp. For $9.95 per month, users are able to use their BlackBerry, PDA, smartphone, regular mobile phone, or a landline to connect to multiple people in North America without the need to schedule it or ask people to call in. The service comes with 250 minutes, and each additional minute costs $0.08.
Lypp uses your phone’s instant messaging capabilities, though the calls themselves are routed through the regular voice service (not data), so voice quality is not an issue. Users must have IM capability installed on their phone, and Lypp’s website provides directions to install them if it’s not already available.
I do struggle a bit to find effective uses of these services on a consistent basis that would justify the cost. I’d imagine there are certain commercial environments where this would make a lot of sense, but not for the average consumer.
Am I missing the boat here? Have you used these services?
Mobile Conference Calling Website:
www.lypp.com
December 27th, 2007
With your cell phone, of course.
If you have relatives in Mexico, Brazil, or anywhere else in Central or South America, it’s quite simple to send them money using your mobile phone. And all for much cheaper that the traditional wire services such as Western Union.
First, sign up for PayPal (aff) if you haven’t already. Paypal, which is now owned by eBay, is used by thousands of people every day to make purchases online, and to send money to friends and family.
PayPal offer two ways to send money. One is through text messaging, and the other is through filling out the appropriate forms on the mobile web.
To transfer money via a text message, send the text message to 729725 (PAYPAL). Include the amount and the recipient’s phone number or email in the subject of your message. PayPal then either calls or text messages you back to confirm the transfer. Even if your friend’s phone is not activated for PayPal Mobile, they will provide instructions on how to activate it.
To send money from the mobile web, simply visit www.paypal.com (aff) from your mobile browser and complete the form to transfer money.
Mobile Website:
www.paypal.com
August 17th, 2007
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