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Could a smartphone replace your wallet?

We say: “Things are really going MOBILE and all businesses need to stand up and listen. As everyone needs a web site today everyone will been a mobile presence in the near future!”

If you believe the pundits, your mobile phone will soon become an electronic wallet, as we take the next step towards a cashless society.

A trial of world-first technology is underway in Australia to see if smartphones can be used to replace debit and credit cards.

The three-month pilot program by Westpac and MasterCard will see debit card information securely programmed into a phone’s SIM card to let users pay for goods by tapping a mobile phone at the cash register.

The SIM card operates like a credit card chip and users will be able to make purchases up to $100 at 82,000 terminals already available in Australian stores including Coles, 7-Eleven and JB Hi-Fi.

Matt Barr, head of innovation at MasterCard, said it’s the first pilot of its kind using a technology within the phone. The pilot is using Samsung’s Galaxy S 111 handsets, but if successful, the technology will enable SIM cards to be re-programmed online and put into other mobile phones.

“You want to buy a coffee, you launch the application on the phone, say you want to make a payment, you tap the phone to the terminal, and you’re done. You want to buy something of high value, you can still use your phone, but you have to remember your pin,” he told Today Tonight.

The technology is being compared to Google Wallet – an application that can be used with any US credit or debit cards on most phones. Google Wallet holds all of the items you would hold in a regular wallet such as offers, loyalty cards and credit cards and eventually they plan to add other items including boarding passes and theatre tickets, to name a few.

It’s also being likened to Commonwealth Bank’s (CBA) new iPhone payment system – an application called “CommBank Kaching”, which was introduced late last year.

The difference is CBA’s technology is a cover device which you buy to attach to your phone, while Westpac’s offer is in-built into the SIM card.

“What’s unique about what we’ve done with Westpac is you don’t need to buy any other hardware to enable the phone to make a payment,” Barr adds.

Although experts warn that the trial needs to test the security of the system.

“The challenge is that the security side is not completely proven,” Telsyte research director Foad Fadaghi told The Herald Sun.

MasterCard’s Barr insists that a big part of the trial is to make sure all of those security issues are ironed out before it is released for a mass market.

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The Online Deal Revolution


Digital coupons put a new spin on an old marketing tool

While the majority of coupons are still clipped from junk mail and discount booklets, digital coupon usage is a modern way to save. It’s forecasted in 2011, nearly 60% of all online shoppers will redeem digital coupons. Growing usage and recognition of mobile coupons will ensure a successful future of digital coupons and there is a new, exciting way to save and it all about “Getting Vouped!”. Local Gold Coast company is on a crusade to reignite the old age coupons with a twist. People find amazing deals at voupons.com.au and then send that discout to their phone instantly for free. They show there phone when paying to save. It gets even better with the new iPhone App that is location based and sends push notifications in the things you are interested in, in your area.

“Several factors account for the rise of digital couponing,” said Jeffrey Grau, eMarketer principal analyst and author of the new report, “Coupon to Groupon: New Channels for an Old Tradition.” “The recession, the increased use of the internet as a shopping and research channel, and, of course, the immense popularity of daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial have created a new form of online deal hunting.” Voupons has

This year, eMarketer estimates, 88.2 million US adults will redeem an online coupon or code for use either online or offline at least once.

Many of those coupons will be from daily deal sites, where users pay for coupons in advance and in return get a steep discount.

Morpace reported that 32.5% of internet users had downloaded Groupon coupons, for example. Unlike regular online coupon users, Groupon users were young, mostly in the 18-to-34 age bracket. But like regular online coupon users, Groupon users had higher income. Groupon users also tended to be female and married, but by narrower margins than they were for regular online coupon users.

The age profile of Groupon users certainly appears to be shifting, according to Experian Hitwise. For the four weeks ended January 29, 2011, the largest concentration of Groupon visitors was users ages 55 and older (37.5%).

“Daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial cater mainly to small businesses,” said Grau. “But national brands have been intrigued by their potential and several have launched daily deal offers. Before taking this route, brands should understand that daily deal sites and regular online coupon sites appeal to different demographic segments and meet different consumer needs.

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Bright Future for Online Coupons

Practically half of the web users who use coupons have mentioned they’re familiar with online coupons, based on a new report by NPD On the web Investigation.

49% percent of the net users who use coupons stated they’re conscious of on line coupons, and 31% mentioned they acquire coupons on the net. Less than one-quarter (23 percent) reported basically getting coupons retrieved from the Net Pretty much half (45 percent) of the respondents who told NPD they utilised coupons obtained more than the world wide web had been male.

NPD’s analysis located a powerful future lies ahead for on the online coupons. Among those aware of online coupons, 87 percent stated they intend to use coupons in the future, and 80 percent reported their use of coupons will grow in the future.

“Since only half of Web users know about online coupons, there is heaps of room for growth,” stated Pamela Smith, Vice President of NPD On-line. “Awareness need to increase with Internet organizations promote relationships that can aid customers to take advantage of coupons on the web.”

Half of NPD’s survey respondents said they obtain coupons via common surfing of the web. Online advertising sparks the interest of 23 percent, with males slightly more likely to respond to advertising than girls. 10 percent took up on-line coupons on the recommendation of friends or family.

Two clear leaders did emerge as the location to go for online coupons. Forty-six percent of the participants in NPD’s survey said they go to coolsavings.com, 41 percent cited valuepage.com. Other sites mentioned inside the survey incorporate valpak.com (12 percent), hotcoupons.com (12 percent), and directcoupons.com (10 percent).

The demographics of on the online coupon users look like this: 55 percent are between the ages of 25-44, one-third of on-line coupon redeemers have a household income over $75,000, 36 percent between $45,000 and $75,000, and 31 percent earn below $45,000.

When compared to other coupon sources, the web has a 3 percent share. Newspapers lead the way with a 48 percent share, followed by shop circulars (26 percent).

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Advantages of Online Coupons

According to a report on internet usage, one of the most common things that people do online is to look for online coupons and discount vouchers. This is no surprise since almost everyone is now doing their shopping online. Knowing this as a fact, most companies and businesses are now creating their own website giving customers more access to the products and services they offer while at the same time offering discounts through online coupons and codes.

Online coupons are now becoming one of the hottest things online. Most customers are now using the internet to look for ways where they can save at least a few bucks. Who wasn’t anyway? Online coupons means discounts and discounts mean paying less. Online coupons can be used to purchase online while some can be printed out and be used in purchasing like grocery coupons and restaurant coupons. What type of online coupons a customer might take advantage of? Let’s take a look at what most online coupons offer and the benefits it gives to users.

There are online coupons that offer free shipping or discounted shipping fees once used to shop online. So instead of spending a few liter of gasoline in going to the nearest department store or shopping malls, why not stay at home and search for an online coupon that can offer you free shipping while shopping online. So aside from being too convenient, it is also very accessible since all you need is a computer and a reliable internet connection.

Another advantage of using an online coupon for shopping is the availability of options. Since you are using the World Wide Web, your option is not limited to what your place or town offers. You can check out other websites and manufacturers thus giving you the advantage of wider selection. The capability to check what other companies can offer can help a customer manage their purchases. Since you now have other options, you will learn to compare and contrast and see for yourself the advantages of each product. Since both products offer discounts, then the value wouldn’t be sacrificed anymore.  What is best about websites that offer online coupons is that they have reviews about the products they are selling which in turn give customers more confidence in making their purchases.

Yet, aside from convenience and having more option, online coupons most known advantage lies in the fact that customers can save more if they will use it. Imagine a 20% discount if you will use a promo code while shopping in Amazon.com or a $20 off if you will purchase an IPod Touch from WalMart! Regardless whether you are shopping for a necessity or for luxury, having an online coupon gives great advantages. People are now enjoying more services like facial spas and massage services because of online coupons while some are now having chances of owning luxury gadgets. Even lovers can now have a sumptuous vacation on a five star hotel using a discount code. With the advantages of using online coupons, do you think it is worth your time to search for them?

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