Venmo Is Going All In On Mobile Payments (appleinsider.com)

Venmo, the PayPal-owned, peer-to-peer payments app, is ending web support for its service. When the changes are all rolled out, users will only be able to make payments and charge users via the iOS or Android app. TechCrunch reports: The message to users was quietly shared in the body of Venmo's monthly transaction history email. It reads as follows: "NOTICE: Venmo has decided to phase out some of the functionality on the Venmo.com website over the coming months. We are beginning to discontinue the ability to pay and charge someone on the Venmo.com website, and over time, you may see less functionality on the website -- this is just the start. We therefore have updated our user agreement to reflect that the use of Venmo on the Venmo.com website may be limited."

The decision represents a notable shift in product direction for Venmo. Though best known as a mobile payments app, the service has also been available online, similar to PayPal, for many years.

Comments

Dumb, dumb, dumb

[omnichad]

I say this as someone who does most of his texting via a desktop computer, but if something doesn't work with a real computer, then it's just toy tech. It's bad enough when social media sites go mobile only (more sad when it's just a web view for the app) and will only do push notifications vs email alerts. Something that's supposed to be universal should not be restricted to mobile devices.

Re:Dumb, dumb, dumb

[ShanghaiBill]

With a desktop app, they can't track location and it is easier to share an account, and thus makes it harder to track payments to a particular individual. For instance, my family all share one PayPal account.

Venmo is "free", so you are the product. You are worth less, and are apparently worthless, when accessing the service from the desktop.

Re: Dumb, dumb, dumb

[Anonymous Coward]

Automatic withdrawal is an ugly situation where, once it is approved and enabled, cannot be discontinued on the account owner's side - only from the business recipient. I've argued round-and-round with my bank on multiple occasions to the point of simply saying, "fine! If you won't disable the automatic transaction then I'm closing the entire account and moving to a different bank."

Venmo sounds like a combination of ...

[b0s0z0ku]

Venmo sounds like a combination of "Venom" and "Vomit." The latter is the reaction to their latest move: I'll sooner just give you cash or write a check.

Re:Are they wanting access to your location &

[b0s0z0ku]

Scammer could as well be using an Android emulator and a VPN :D

Obvious what is happening here.

[Tough Love]

Obvious what is happening here, Venmo can violate your privacy and operate malware on your device more efficiently with an app than a browser interface, because browsers are starting to get pretty secure. Whereas even without exploits (of which there are no shortage) Venmo can easily trick or coerce user victims into clicking those privacy invasion/spyware authorization buttons.