Redesigned PayPal App Wants You to Order Ahead
PayPal aims to move into the brick-and-mortar retail market through its updated mobile wallet app, which includes $100 worth of in-store deals, more food spots offering the ability to place orders in advance, and an experimental function allowing diners to pay the check in restaurants. The app’s latest iteration emphasizes features that let consumers make immediate purchases based on location, eliminating the initial login screen and opting to ask users when they are looking at sensitive information or are about to buy something. The “local” tab has been converted into a “shop” tab, and the app lets users look up and redeem deals from retailers and then automatically redeem the deal when a purchase is made in-store. PayPal says testing of the pay-at-the-table feature has had a mainly positive response, with customers able to view their bills upfront and pay quickly. PayPal is still linked to the user’s credit cards, which are housed in the app’s wallet portion. However, a new BillMeLater feature will enable independent merchants to offer a line of credit to consumers without having to enter into a contract with a major card company first.
From “Redesigned PayPal App Wants You to Order Ahead, Skip Lines”
CNet (09/05/13) Tam, Donna