PayPal has announced the launch of a new pilot program that it has placed in subway stations in Singapore, which is designed to allow commuters to use their mobile devices to make purchases while they’re on their way to or from school and work.
The program involves the participation of eight different stores which are offering mobile consumers passing through the subway stations the opportunity to take advantage of reduced prices on Valentine’s Day gifts.
In order to make a purchase, mobile consumers simply need to use their smartphones to scan the QR code for particular items which are displayed on a poster or billboard in one of the stations across the city. They can then pay for their purchase using their PayPal account. Singapore as known for being among the most Wi-Fi friendly cities worldwide, offering its underground commuters complete coverage.
This announcement follows close on the heels of one made in New York, which allowed locals to buy beauty products using their smartphones in a number of taxicabs. That promotion was designed to align with fashion week in the city.
This most recent pilot program in Singapore was inspired by the Seoul subway system’s virtual stores that were established by the Tesco supermarket chain.
The popularity of mobile payments is rapidly increasing, to the point that even the Obama campaign is using its technology. One of its primary struggles faced by mobile payment businesses is that there has yet to be a standard and they disagree as to what approach the technology should take.
