According to recent data released by iResearch, a data analysis and online tracking service, the total independent mobile payments transaction volume in China reached approximately $200 billion, last year (1219.74 billion yuan). This represents an increase of 707 percent over the figures that were seen in 2012. The services that were included in the analysis by iResearch included various forms of mobile payments not including the large established banks and massive conventional services such as China UnionPay and the bank card association. The analysis also took peer to peer money transfers into their data for this report.

Chipotle has announced that it will be investing $10 million towards integrating mobile payments in its branded application, showing how the quick-service restaurant sees a great value in entering the space. Chipotle's chief financial officer John Hartung announced these plans during an earnings call in late January. A rough version of the mobile payment solution is already being tested by select employees, but the QSR is still experimenting before rolling out a public app update. "Mobile payments, when executed properly, have demonstrated strong gains in line speed throughput," said Drew Sievers, CEO of mFoundry at FIS, Larkspur, CA. "This is …

Procter & Gamble's CoverGirl is leveraging augmented reality again to shorten the gap between its print ads and transactions. The skin care company used Blippar's technology in its print ad in Cosmopolitan's March 2014 issue. The ad invites readers to blipp the page to find their "perfect blend." "The big sell with augmented reality companies has been we are creating engaging, colorful QR code-like experiences," said Gary Schwartz, president/CEO of Impact Mobile, Toronto. "Interactive games on confessionary, beauty makeover videos, etc.

Online retailer Moda Operandi has launched an iOS mobile application just in time for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York to give designers a platform to showcase their collections in a mobile commerce environment right after their runway shows. The app includes the same features as the retailer's Web site, allowing consumers to preorder from a designer's collection through flash online trunk shows. By expanding its commerce to mobile, Moda Operandi will be able to reach fashionistas on-the-go, and engage with their consumers in another channel. "The entire industry is moving towards real-time sales and data," said Indre Rockefeller, GM …

Commuters taking the public transit buses in Aberdeen, Scotland now have a brand new augmented reality experience available to them that will allow them to gain a great deal more entertainment out of their rides.Scotland Buses. Using smartphones and tablets, passengers on these Scottish are able to open up an interactive video channel that gives the viewer the choice to view a range of different content, including information about the transit services, interviews with staff, movie trailers, and even the ability to purchase tickets or surf the web.

As mobile commerce continues to grow in the U.S. and elsewhere, tablets are becoming the devices that consumers enjoy shopping on the most. Tablets are beginning to have a major impact on the way that people shop online, but retailers have yet to take tablets seriously when it comes to matters concerning mobile commerce. A recent report from BI Intelligence highlights the growth of tablets in e-commerce and highlights the trends that are emerging among consumers with these mobile devices. According to the report, total mobile spending from tablets and smartphones has accounted for more than $30 billion in 2013. …

RadioShack opened its first custom concept store in Manhattan on Feb. 1, leveraging mobile technology to enhance the in-store experience with the hopes of spurring better sales for the company. The interactive store lets consumers discover new products and connect with sales associates in a new way. Some of the mobile features in the design include in-store tablets that let consumers experience different speakers as well as touchscreens and apps to help shoppers get a better understanding of different products.

As mobile payments and commerce become more commonplace, fraud associated with them does too, which means yet another potential security headache for banks. As we've seen in recent weeks, even physical POS terminals are not safe from cyber attacks and fraud attempts. With the attacks targeting Target, Neiman Marcus and other major retailers last month, cyber security and fraud prevention is in the public mind more than ever right now. And this means banks must be more vigilant than in the past. If a third party, such as a retailer or vendor, gets hacked and valuable financial data gets stolen, …

Some consolidation in the world of mobile commerce: Monitise, a UK-based company that works with the likes of Visa to build and roll out mobile payment solutions, has acquired mobile commerce technology provider Pozitron for $100 million in an all-share deal. This is about inorganic expansion: Pozitron is based in Istanbul, Turkey and is most active in its home market and the Middle East, two regions where Monitise has been less strong. Other acquisitions at Monitise to push geographic expansion have included Clairmail in 2012 for $173 million to expand into the U.S. market. It's not the only one: in …

Tencent has launched a new mobile application for WeChat users. WeChat is the most popular messaging application in China, and Tencent has been working on ways to monetize the app for some time. The company has taken a strong interest in mobile commerce and has seen the success that online retailers and digital companies have discovered by engaging mobile consumers. As such, the new application for WeChat users aims to leverage the traditional hongbao. The hongbao is a red envelop or packet that is traditionally given as a gift during Chinese New Year and, in some cases, weddings and typically …