Mobile commerce platform launched by 3 Hong Kong and Citibank
3 Hong Kong, the mobile operator for the Hutchison Telecommunications organization, and Citibank Hong Kong have joined together to launch a new mobile wallet service called “3 Citi Wallet.” The mobile wallet is designed to make it easier for used to pay for goods and services using their mobile devices. The platform can store financial information as well as information associated with credit cards, making this data accessible through the use of NFC technology.
Demand for mobile commerce is on the rise in Asia
Mobile commerce is becoming quite prominent throughout Asia. In Hong Kong, mobile devices are beginning to play a fundamental role in people’s lives and more are beginning to call for new forms of commerce that are more aligned with their mobile-centric interests. While interest in mobile commerce is on the rise, no dedicated platform has yet become the favorite among consumers. There is plenty of room for new mobile commerce platforms to establish a strong following among consumers, but many people have expressed their limited interest in committing themselves to a single platform.
New platform is compatible with iOS and Android devices
Using the 3 Citi Wallet, consumers can pay for goods and services with the financial information associated with the application. Though the mobile wallet does leverage the capabilities of NFC technology, a version has been developed for iOS devices that is not reliant on NFC. In order to use the Android version of the wallet, however, consumers will have to have an NFC-enabled device. Currently, Samsung, Sony, HTC, and LG are the only companies that offer such devices.
Competition may be fierce for new mobile commerce services
3 Hong Kong notes that the 3 Citi Wallet is the only platform of its kind that is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. This may make the wallet somewhat more popular than its competitors due to its accessibility. Whether the mobile wallet will be able to establish itself as the favored mobile commerce platform among consumers has yet to be seen.
