The world of payments as we know it is changing and with it the way people shop and take or make payments. NFC, contactless payments, in-app payments or payment apps are the words on everyone’s lips.

Technology advances including broadband internet and mobile have reached critical mass, the continuous growth of smartphone penetration worldwide (up by 73% in Q2 2011 according to Canalys) and the ever increasing development of new apps have paved the way for this shift towards mobile payments. In the UK alone, one in three adults now uses a smartphone according to the latest report by telecoms regulator Ofcom. So why has the time come for Marketers and Retailers to be ready for Mobile Payments?

1 It’s only going to be the ‘next big thing’…
Mobile money apps have been on the peripheral for some time without many huge strides into their development. Juniper Research has now predicted mobile money transfer services will see users exceed 500 million worldwide by 2014 tripling in value by 2015 to reach $670bn. With Paypal releasing its new Android widget that will allow you to transfer money using near field communication. So it seems the mobile money train is finally leaving the station, and if other recent digital developments are to go by, it’s probably better to be on board. (more…)

Apps World are pleased to announce that MPEGIF & DTG will be supporting the Apps World event taking place on the 30th Nov-1st Dec as Media Association supporters.

MPEGIF is an independent and platform neutral not-for-profit organisation facilitating and furthering the widespread adoption and deployment of MPEG and related standards in next generation digital media services.

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The Cloud Computing Congress (http://www.cloudcomputingcongress.com/), has just announced a range of free to attend workshops on mobile cloud computing, co-located with the Mobile Social Media forum (http://www.mobilesocial-networking.com/).

The workshops examine why mobile and cloud computing are the perfect fit, and how this can be used to generate the next generation mobile experience. The workshops also cover practical demo of hybrid and mobile cloud computing, and how core functionality can be expanded to mobile devices for the cloud. View the free to attend workshops here: http://www.cloudcomputingcongress.com/exhibition/workshops.html (more…)

New for 2010, we have introduced a Bloggers Pass for the event.   Bloggers Passes are available for New Media/Social Media bloggers looking to cover the show and become a Blogger Supporter for the event.

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