Multi-Channel (Ussd, NFC,2D Barcode RFID,,WAP) Enabled Mobile

¶ … multi-channel (USSD, NFC,2d Barcode RFID,,WAP) enabled Mobile Payment System with multiple payment gateway integration (online).

In this project, I present a product extension -- an extension on the existing mobile payment technologies and modules through the incorporation of a multi-channel (USSD, NFC,2D Barcode RFID, WAP) enabled Mobile Payment System with multiple payment gateway integration (online).Corporate Social Responsibility emerged as a key component of such project.

A recent PEW study, close to more than 85% of the American adults own a cell phone (Zickuhr,2011).This kind f statistics means that mobile payment techniques are at the verge of revolutionizing global and local commerce in all sectors of life. In this project, I present a product extension -- an extension on the existing mobile payment technologies and modules through the incorporation of a multi-channel (USSD, NFC,2D Barcode RFID, WAP) enabled Mobile Payment System with multiple payment gateway integration (online).

Background

This innovation is informed by the very fact that almost on a daily basis, a brand new mobile payment venture is introduced which makes it easier for millions of consumers as wel as businesses to employ mobile phone technology in enabling as well as enhancing the processing of millions of dollars (Contini et al.,2011,p.4). The initial focus was more on the process sof enabling mobile device applications to be used as browsers for accessing the already existing internet-based payment as well as banking and retail systems. However, more recently, there has been a need for the use of application-enabled mobile phone applications as a suitable payment form factor that can substitute cash, check, as well debit and credit cards. The main aim is to create a virtual super wallet that is connected to your banks and other online payment gateways and payment processors. Several financial institutions have already tested these capabilities. These institutions includes even non-banks as well as those that have an online presence

In this case, the phone will be used as a means of initiating a card payment, bank payment, ACH transfer or a USSD-based provider-to-provider account cash transfer.The use of a phone in creating a direct transfer to another business, individual or bank account using the already existing and efficient bank-centric clearing as well as settlement capabilities such as ACH or any other payment providers is one of the key highlights of our innovation. This system also embraces the use of USSD and SMS messages through mobile phones in initiating the clearing as well as settlement of funds through secure and specialized functions. Such a system was used successfully in Haiti in funneling funds to aid the earthquake victims. This innovation is the mother of all mobile payment gateways since it embodies all the latest technologies into a single piece of hardware and then allows the functionalities to be executed as need arises. This means that it embodies the MPESA technology and the systems used by Amazon, Google, and PayPal.

It is worth noting that the development and implementation of this technology in the United States would not be quite challenging since the evolution of mobile payment in the nation in itself followed a rather unique path due to the fact that the country has a well-defined and regulated mobile payment as well as banking system.

The only issue is that the U.S. consumers are already blessed with multiple payment methods so there is no absolute or dire need for the deployment of a full fledge mobile payment as an alternative.

There is however a growing evidence that in the future, mobile payment systems ill become a significant element or face of the U.S. payment systems. A recent study by the U.S. government indicated that up to 18% of the U.S. households are not banked (don't have a bank account).According to FDIC (2009), one of the main variable in the level of attractiveness of the existing mobile payments in nations where a large number of the population is unbaked is the convenience of mobile payment gateways. This is because they can act also as mobile phone-based micro-finance systems.

In the United States however, it is never the phenomenon of mobile phones that will make mobile payment systems to be embraced. Rather, it is the number of Smartphone users that will spike its growth. This is the reason why our system is a futuristic one that embodies all smart technologies that are all readily available in the existing and future Smartphones. According to a recent PEW study two-thirds of young adults as well as individuals with higher incomes own smarphones.This study indicated that 66% of individuals aged between 18 and 19 own smartphones while 68% of individuals in households with incomes above $75,000 also own smartphones (Raines,2012). This is an interesting statistic since the future of mobile payment system in the United States of America is pegged on the growth of Smartphone usage and ownership.

Security concerns and Fraud issues

Even though mobile payment systems are prone to frequent security as well as fraud issues, several players such as the Retail Payments Risk Forum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta technology have come up with additional capabilities that are resident on chips to be used in reducing fraud payment cases while also ensuring that the cards are all PCI compliant (Contini et al.,2011).

The uniqueness of our product or innovation