Free micro-payments via phone. Big UK bank, Barclays, releases Pingit today

http://www.barclays.co.uk/Mobile/BarclaysPingit/P1242603570446

by dazbradbury • 14 years ago

44 18 14 years ago

barclays.co.uk

TomGullen• 14 years ago

Nice but can't see if it's free to receive money as a small business?

Great to see more competition in the on-line payment market anyway, Paypal has had a monopoly for far too long. Stripe and new services like this will make a fairer more competitive market.

dazbradbury3• 14 years ago

Here is the Pingit for Business link:

http://www.barclays.co.uk/Mobile/BarclaysPingitforBusiness/P...

But I agree, it doesn't make it clear what the charges are. It also claims there will be a limit of £5k for receiving funds. In the T&C's it states:

4. Charges

  We do not charge you for sending payments through Barclays 
  Pingit (network charges may apply for using the app).  If 
  you are a business customer, you may incur standard 
  charges for making payments as set out in your tariff.

JackdawX• 14 years ago

Not exactly: "There is a maximum daily limit of £5,000 for all payments received through the service."

Sounds ideal for small businesses.

tonylemesmer2• 14 years ago

On my rooted Android it detected that I had root and prevented me from using the app. Lloyds Bank mobile banking doesn't have any similar scruples.

dazbradbury3• 14 years ago

That is annoying. And from the market comments it seems jailbroken iphones are the same.

However, my assumption is that it's a security measure. They are presumably trying to stop malicious applications sending payments without user notification, and I guess that makes sense.

As a bank, they may be being overly precautious, but is there a fallback of a web app?

archivator• 14 years ago

It's a security measure against the wrong crowd. If someone is going to use root for malicious purposes, they'll just take apart the app and remove the check for root. Blocking casual root users is doing nothing for your security.

sliverstorm• 14 years ago

As a bank, they may be being overly precautious

When I give all my money to someone for safekeeping, I would much prefer they err on the side of caution.

neiljohnson• 14 years ago

Doesn't seem to be via text.

IsaacL2• 14 years ago

Is there a developer API? I'd love to have a system where customers can, eg, scan a QR code, get given the details of what they're paying for, and then hit "confirm". Would remove quite a bit of friction from people fiddling around with entering your phone number.

jerguismi• 14 years ago

That's the way bitcoin mobile wallets are working: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.miracleas.bitcoin_...

Paying is very easy, just scan the QR code and push send. I guess we will have to wait couple of years before this kind of model becomes available for traditional money...

edlea3• 14 years ago

It's interesting to read some of the Android reviews for the app; an interesting insight into how users value convenience over security.

Or simply how little they appreciate security

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.barclays.apps.ping...

retube• 14 years ago

My favorite:

Absolute GASH

Won't work on a rooted DHD. Or any rooted fone for that matter. Why? Its my fone and my money....poofs. I guess a banking app by Barclays will be the same. Don't bother with this one.

lucian1900• 14 years ago

Are you assuming having root access to hardware you own to be a security flaw?

edlea3• 14 years ago

I'm assuming that most users don't know what root access is or the implications of having it

Free micro-payments via phone. Big UK bank, Barclays, releases Pingit today

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