Zong

Online Commerce Trend: More Spending, Smaller Purchases

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 20 at 12:22 pm PT

The average checkout size is shrinking, even though more people spent more money online. Why? Here are three reasons.

CEO John Donahoe Talks About What’s Next for eBay’s PayPal, After Scott Thompson’s Surprise Exit to Yahoo

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 4 at 10:08 pm PT

Now that Yahoo has nabbed PayPal President Scott Thompson from its crosstown Internet peer, there will be some shuffling to do in order to fill the gap he leaves behind at eBay.

eBay Bets on Social Commerce With Acquisition of the Gifts Project

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on September 8, 2011 at 5:58 am PT

EBay is announcing this morning that it has bought a company to bolster its efforts in social commerce.

News Byte

Boku Launches Carrier Billing in France for Digital Goods

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on August 24, 2011 at 3:01 pm PT

San Francisco-based Boku, which enables consumers to charge digital items to their wireless bill, is launching with French carriers Bouygues Telecom and SFR, in addition to already working with Orange France. Now most mobile-phone owners in France will be able to charge things, such as virtual goods in an online game, up to 10 Euros. Boku operates in 65 countries and across 230 carriers. Its main competitor, Zong, was acquired by eBay last month.

Verizon Wireless and American Express Find an Intermediary Path to Mobile Payments

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on August 1, 2011 at 5:30 am PT

Verizon Wireless is announcing a partnership with American Express that will enable its 100-million-plus mobile subscribers to pay for goods online using their phone numbers.

How PayPal Will Save You From a Zombie Attack (Video!)

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on July 12, 2011 at 9:00 am PT

At a PayPal event today at its San Jose headquarters, the company provided at least one good reason to use digital payments: It can save your life during a Zombie Apocalypse!

Why PayPal Paid $240 Million for Zong

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on July 8, 2011 at 6:29 am PT

PayPal has spent the past 13 years making payment easier for anyone who has an email address. With the acquisition of Zong, its focus can now shift to anyone who has a phone number.

eBay Acquires Mobile Payments Provider Zong for $240 Million in Cash

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on July 7, 2011 at 6:34 am PT

EBay said this morning that it is acquiring Zong, a well-backed mobile payments provider, for about $240 million in cash.

American Express Continues Push Into Mobile Payments With Investment in Payfone

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on April 12, 2011 at 5:00 pm PT

Two weeks after launching an all-new digital payments platform called Serve, American Express is doubling its efforts in the emerging space with an investment in Payfone, a mobile-payments provider.

American Express Launches All-New Digital Payments Platform to Attack PayPal's Bread and Butter

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on March 28, 2011 at 5:00 am PT

American Express is launching an all-new Internet-based payment system that will go up against PayPal as part of the company’s plans to expand beyond its briefcase-touting business clientele.