One of the deterrents preventing users from making purchases using their mobile devices is the extensive keying in of information and, consequently, could strike a blow to the adoption of m-commerce services. Companies such as SNAZ Commerce Solutions out of New York and Network365 based in Ireland are banking on mobile wallets to simplify mobile shopping. The basic concept of the mobile wallet is quite straightforward: a user registers their credit card and shipping information via their carrier’s web site, then to make a purchase using their mobile phone, a customer simply keys in a password or ID number.

SNAZ Commerce Solutions
SNAZ’s platform supports one-click transactions and single sign-on access to multiple brand name merchants, including Barnes & Noble, Gap, 1800Flowers.com, via WAP and SMS. With SNAZ’s technology, users can search, price-compare, and purchase books, music movies, and electronic items with less than five round-trip SMS messages.

Recently the company signed a deal with the German telecom Hutchison Telecom to offer subscribers its mobile commerce solution.

Commenting on the deal, Vikram Chachra, co-founder of SNAZ, said, "SMS is rapidly transforming from a person-to-person messaging channel to a huge content delivery platform. Cutting edge mobile operators like Hutchison realize that due to the immense popularity of SMS, an SMS based m-commerce solution is likely to gain rapid acceptance and adoption among consumers."

Besides Hutchison Telecom, BTGenie is close to finalizing a deal with SNAZ as well as an undefined U.S. carrier.

Network365
The Irish company’s mZone Mobile Commerce Solution includes a mobile wallet that supports credit card transactions as well as micropayment transactions that allow the user to draw against a prepaid account. The platform has been enhanced to support a wide range of mobile devices, networks, and types of commerce.

Recently Network365’s m-commerce platform has attracted the attention of Siteloft Wireless, a Norwegian mobile Internet service provider and partners in Singapore.

The Norwegian service provider will integrate the m-commerce solution into its offering for its Nordic customers. The Scandinavian market is used to adopting value added services and new mobile technologies such as SMS and WAP and, therefore, is a good target for the introduction of m-commerce services, said Bjørn Tscherning Hjulstad, CEO of Siteloft.

Network365 has also targeted the Asian market, another hotbed for m-commerce services. The company has announced setting up offices in Singapore and has partnered with hSenid to develop and adapt its m-commerce platform for the Asian market.

For more information: http://www.snaz.com, http://www.network365.com