Barclays bank has added updates to its Pingit payment service app, hoping to make it much faster and easier for users to buy products on smartphones.
The Mobile Checkout feature should make mobile payments easier for users by removing the need to enter full credit or debit card details, while the Buy It feature enables purchases in just a few clicks by scanning a QR code in the add via the Pingit app. This should allow users to purchase goods directly from any advertisement.
The service is also available to retail customers from other UK banks who can download it and top up their credit balance.
The UK bank said the updates would help its clients grow their business through new growth channels.
Mike Walters, head of UK corporate payments at Barclays said: "For mobile enabled businesses, this is a great way to increase sales conversion by reducing payment input errors and increased consumer assurance at checkout. For new players to the market, it is an easy, low risk way to enter into mobile commerce.
"Mobile commerce has grown more than 250% over the last two years and it is important that businesses provide consumers with a convenient and easy payment method through this channel," added Walters.
Barclays’ Pingit app itself was released in February 2012 as a service that allowed users to send money to other users and make payments to utilities companies by scanning QR codes on paper bills.
