Mobile Phones & Ringtones

PayPal Goes Mobile

March 31st, 2006

PayPal is working on mobile commerce service that is similar to TextPayMe. With the service, mobile phone users will be able to send a text message with instructions to send money to another person, using a cell phone number to identify the recipient. The recipient will be notified by PayPal of the transaction and will be instructed how to claim the money, according to the Web site.

PayPal Mobile will also include a new service called Text to Buy. Advertisements in magazines or posters will include the words Text to Buy and a special code, the site says. Users must set up a PayPal account and activate their phones for the service and then they can send a text to the number from the advertisement to buy the product. PayPal calls the user back to confirm the order and then the product is shipped to the user.

What’s interesting is that this kind of SMS-Payment service has already been widespread and commonplace in much of the rest of the world, primarily Europe and Asia. Looks like the United States is finally, at least trying, catching up.

Entry Filed under: Technology