Technology
Mobile e-payment weakest link
Updated: 2011-06-03 11:08
By Shen Jingting (China Daily)
|
An advertisement for UCWeb on the side of a bus in Nanjing. According to a report issued by the China Internet Network Information Center in January, the number of Chinese mobile Internet users climbed to 303 million in 2010. [Photo / China Daily] |
Improvements needed to help expand emerging online industry
BEIJING - China's mobile Internet business is promising, but its underdeveloped payment system makes it hard for online retailers to make money, according to Zhang Xiaowei, who runs an e-commerce mobile Internet website in China.
Zhang's website is called mmb.cn and it is like a mobile phone version of Taobao.com, which sells various kinds of products, including clothes, shoes and electronic gadgets, to Chinese cell phone users.
Founded in 2006, it now has daily transactions worth a total of almost 1 million yuan ($154,248). However, 95 percent of them have to be cash on delivery, Zhang said.
"Though our business is booming, we cannot conveniently collect money through people's mobile phones," Zhang said.
Chinese people are reluctant to pay on mobile Internet because of security concerns and the complicated procedures needed to complete a deal, he said.
|
"Money is the lifeblood of mobile Internet retailers - they need it to grow bigger. However, the mobile payment system in China fails in its function of performing blood transfusions," Yu said.
According to a report issued by the China Internet Network Information Center in January, there were 457 million Internet users in the country at the end of 2010, rising by 73.3 million from 2009.
The number of Chinese mobile Internet users climbed to 303 million in 2010. The number of mobile payment users is expected to reach 221 million this year, up 60.9 percent from 2010.
The market volume for 2011 is estimated be 5.24 billion yuan, according to the Beijing-based research firm Analysys International.
The rosy prospects have attracted Internet giants, telecom operators and financial organizations to the industry.
E-paper
Pret-a-design
China is taking bigger strides to become a force in fashion.
Lasting Spirit
Running with the Beijingers
A twist in the tale
Specials
My China story
Foreign readers are invited to share your China stories.
Mom’s the word
Italian expat struggles with learning English and experiences the joys of motherhood again.
Lenovo's challenge
Computer maker takes on iconic brand apple with range of stylish, popular products