Update: Google and mobile payments

It seems that all major companies are going viral, they are trying to find the best and fastest way to make their products more user friendly.  Google is already present in the shopping online world via Google checkout, which allows users to make purchases online via their mobile devices.  Previously we talk about Starbucks mobile payment (here) and now it seems that Google is following next.  Google has teamed up with MasterCard Inc. and Citigroup Inc. to add new technology in Android devices which will allow for consumers to make purchases by waving their phones in front of a small reader at the checkout counter.  The planned system will also allow Google to offer retailers to get more data about their customers which they can use to target their ads and discount offers to mobile-devisers near their stores.  The idea is to turn the mobile devices into a kind of electronic wallet.  

Consumer advocates, meanwhile, are concerned that a mobile system would bring higher fees and brings upa question of whether or not consumers actually want this new system.  "It is possible to make a system that's too easy to use, where you reduce so much friction from the transaction process that people aren't necessarily aware of what they're spending on something?" asked Jan Chipchase, executive creative director at the design firm Frog Design, who studies mobile payments.

What do you think? If this new system brings hidden fees, will it be worth it?  Or is this something that you can live without.

Is swiping the easy part?

M. Alexandra


http://www.thestreet.com/story/11053577/1/googles-mobile-payments-challenge.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/technology/24wallet.html
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2010/tc20101231_087039.htm

Can MySpace survive the Facebook era?

Before Facebook there was MySpace. It was easy to use, fun to show your own views without having to be too computer savvy. It also created a unique way to meet people, keep in touch with people around the globe and for new artists to come out and become known. It was the number one social media site, especially used for entertainers to promote their services. MySpace had 27 million members by end of 2005 when it was bought by News Corp. So what went wrong? Maybe it was the start of Facebook or maybe it was due to changing times; but that is all in the past. Now, can MySpace survive? Maybe. There are some things that could be better, such as:

• Eliminate spam.
• Better page customization.
• AJAX enabled features.
• Monitor requests for tech support and respond quickly.
• Faster load times. Solve the bandwidth problems.
• Allow a single email address to be linked to multiple MySpace accounts.
• Fix the broken code in the "search friends" feature.
• Allow simple yes/no confirmation requests to occur in an Ajax pop.
• Allow bands to post more than 4 songs.
• More focus on Blogs.
• Allow friend control.

For MySpace, it is not enough to be a place for bands mainstream. MySpace needs to improve their features and advertise more in order to bring in the masses. I know I have a MySpace account and cannot remember the last time I checked it out. Never mind the fact that it has been hacked a couple of times, which is probably why I never access the page. It adds more to the fact that it needs major improvement.

So will this be enough? Maybe not, all I know is that if MySpace wants to survive they will need bigger and better changes just to keep up.

M. Alexandra Torres

http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2007/09/26/10-ways-myspace-can-and-needs-to-improve/

http://www.myspaceplease.com/myspace-update.php

How to save MySpace
How to Save Myspace from a Slow and Painful Death