Slashdot Mirror
Verizon Set To Launch Mobile Payment Service
CWmike writes "Verizon Wireless announced on Monday that customers will soon be able to charge up to $25 a month in online purchases to their accounts. The service, based on technology created by Danal, will require text messaging-enabled phones, and that purchases be made from Verizon-approved online stores, which include game sites and social networks. It will require that customers click a BilltoMobile button during checkout from a participating online Web site. Users will be asked to input their mobile numbers and mobile billing zip codes for authentication. Once the user is authenticated, a one-time passcode will sent to his or her phone. The number is then input into the online checkout window. At that point, the transaction is complete and the charge will appear on the customer's monthly phone bill. GigaOm writes, 'If Verizon can get people accustomed to putting in their phone numbers instead of credit cards while shopping online, then it could own a critical element in building an application and services platform that spans the wired and wireless world ... Much like Apple has such a large stake in the mobile application and commerce space today because it has millions of credit cards in iTunes, Verizon could be expanding its own payments information for a similar goal.'"
Verizon has found a way to get hordes of parents with pitch forks and torches to come to their corporate offices and gruesomely kill them.
You notice they start at with a $25 limit? How convenient. Scam sites like those who conspired with Zynga (Mafia Wars & Farmville) have been scamming by getting people to subscribe via the text messaging service. Now Verizon is basically expanding that by allowing POS purchases in addition to monthly subscription fees and per text billing through messaging.
It really is the parents who will get screwed with this and go more insane at Verizon (and other carriers) when their kids get stupid or scammed into making purchases via their phones. Most adults are not subscribing to the ridiculous, and more importantly, misleading offers that make money by nailing you with subscription fees through the text messaging system.
Lol. Seriously? Will someone not think of the children??