Breaktrough Technologies Part 2-Micropayments.

Many years ago, during the dotcom, micro payments on mobile devices were considered ready for commercialization. One company, Paybox, launched a very promising service concept for one to one, one2many payments. Then not much happened. SMS based payments has been decently successful for ringtones, tickets, and other content. There are some barriers that has to be ticked;
-The fees charges by the mobile operators. Starting with some 80% 2001 the level today is still over 20% compared with the approx 2% charged for a direct debt card. Challengers has to either bypass the telcos (how?) or renegotiate competitive levels.
-User Interface. Following the successful launch of the Iphone and upcoming releases on S60 and Android the developing scenario is good.
-Security. Advances in encryption and usability.
-Consumer awareness. Increasingly consumers are aware of the non voice centric services out there. They want to do more with their mobiles.

Developing story more might come.

Movers to look out for
-Zong
-Mobile Cash
-Payex
-Carrier based solutions

Populära inlägg i den här bloggen

Startups; Data MVNOs coming up?

Bild
Many years ago I was among the first to capitalize on the Virtual Mobile Operators (MVNOs). It was a great business in the early 2000. Later the margins went to low and instead I introduced outsourcing for mobile operators&brands that searched for lower costs (today big biz for Ericsson). Recently it has come to my attention that there might be some business opportunities in a data driven MVNO Model. Just look at the roaming charges within EU. Still most users have to pay as much as 70 eurocent per mb. With recent increase in usage you easily end up with substantial charges. The models for discounts offered by operators are not transparent enough. One interesting concept that just received venture funding is Fogg Mobile. Their approach is to market a "one world" concept fully transparent to the user. The concepts operates on the following pilars -Roaming agreements across Europe. Initially with the operator 3 -Funding from Russia. Maybe some stakes from 3? -Entrepre...
Läs mer

Realtime Dual Channel Multitasking-The wet dream of entreprenurs

Bild
Recently I had a phone conversations with a small cap/startup investor here in Stockholm . Some topics were up for brief but one tapped into my head. A European IP telephony company looking for new partnerships and clients for Winmo,S60 Ip telephony and more service. Key is not to go head2head with skype and so on. A few ours later i was on fring, skype, with a entrepreneur in Stockholm that has some distribution for this type of concepts. Bang 5 minutes in we planned for a lunch all partly done on my mobile. Later just before the lunch I had the final details from the VC on homepage and strategic outlook on the ip telephony, also on fring. This feeling of efficient, cost effective real time management is in your pocket. Small organizations has an advantage an can start using realtime management now. For larger organizations it takes a change of mindset and processes. Risk are involved as well as major benefits benefits. Look for companies like Fring, Skype, Ryanair,Virgin, Avanza,f...
Läs mer