Yapital, a payments processor based in Germany, has released the results of a new survey conducted on its behalf by TNS Infratest. The survey has gauged the interest that German consumers have in mobile payments. Many consumers have been relying more heavily on their smartphones recently, using these devices to conduct their daily lives more efficiently. As smartphone adoption continues to grow, people are becoming more interested in the concept of mobile commerce. According to the survey some 31% of German consumers said that they needed to have their smartphones with them at all times. These people noted that they …

Online floral marketplace BloomNation launched BloomSnap, a new project implemented to take the anxiety out of gifting flower arrangements with its mobile-optimized Web site and mobile ordering and payment options. Once a local floral artisan has prepared a consumer's arrangement, a photo is snapped and sent via email to the consumer, alleviating the guessing game and eliminating a disappointing delivery. BloomNation is an idea inspired by unhappy customers receiving flower arrangements in poor condition or appearing differently from stock photos in advertisements.

Brazil's mobile payments platform Boleto has announced that it has been hacked. The platform is the most popular of its kind in all of Brazil, which has made it a target for malicious groups seeking to exploit financial information. The attack has brought more attention to the issue of mobile commerce security and could have a major impact on whether or not people will participate in mobile commerce in the future. Boleto notes that the hack occurred over a two year period, with some 500,000 transactions being compromised over that timeframe. An estimated $4 billion in mobile payments has been …

Applebee's has teamed up with Pabst Blue Ribbon to create the Tap Room mobile SMS program, an opt-in offer service that rewards patronage and links with a user's social network to reinforce the chain's positioning as a neighborhood-bar. Through restaurant-specific codes, Applebee's guests can register for the Tap Room using their smartphones by simply texting a code. SMS programs are a great way to enhance the fast-casual experience by creating direct response campaigns and will allow the brand to develop more personalized relationships with its customers.

According to a new report from Roy Morgan Research, the number of people participating in mobile commerce in Australia has grown by 448% over the past three years. There are many factors contributing to this growth, including the growing adoption of smartphones and tablets and the increasing interest that retailers are showing in the mobile field. An estimated six in ten Australians currently own smartphones and many of these people are using their mobile devices to shop for and purchase products online. The appeal of mobile commerce has to do with its convenience. Shopping applications allow mobile consumers to shop …

Recently, few people spotted buy now buttons in tweets from the shopping app Fancy. Some of them even tried to click them. The buttons could only be seen on Twitter's mobile app, and were not working when Re/code (who broke the news) tested them out. "Tapping on them didn't do anything," the report notes. "But Re/code did speak to someone who said that tapping on the button earlier on Monday did lead to a checkout page opening up within the Twitter app. Re/code could not replicate that experience." Apparently the news source that reported it first is known for authentic …

The social media giant, Facebook has partnered with payment service PayPal to enable payments to be made on any Facebook mobile app that is accepted into its FbStart program. There has been much talk around Facebook integrating mobile payment processing into its offering and FbStart appears to be a strong platform for it to use. FbStart provides start ups with free tools and support. Successful applicants now have access to PayPal's Braintree platform, enabling payment processing for up to $50k, for free.

IDG Global Solutions has released a new report focused on the safety aspects of mobile commerce. The report notes that many people are willing to use their smartphones and tablets to shop online, but safety concerns keep them from doing so. High profile cyber attacks on retailers often discourage people from participating in mobile commerce, as they believe that their financial information is constantly at risk of exploitation. Poorly optimized mobile shopping platforms are also keeping people away from mobile shopping as well. The report notes that many people are visiting mobile websites from their smartphones and tablets, but retail …

One in three German consumers have said they are willing to make payments on their smartphones when paying for petrol, according to a new survey published this week. Smartphone owners in the country are more open to using the technology, with 43% saying they are ready for m-payments to pay for fuel, but there is also apparently a thirst for mCommerce among non-smartphone owners. The survey, which was conducted by TNS Infratest on behalf of European cross-channel payment solution provider Yapital, found that 33% of all respondents and 45% of smartphone owners would like to pay for their bus and …

1800Flowers.com's plan to start accepting bitcoin payments in the fall reflects the retailer's search for new ways to reach a growing audience whose financial dealings and purchasing increasingly happen in the digital realm, including mobile. The Carle Place, NY, company will begin accepting the virtual currency through the Coinbase platform already used by Expedia.com, Overstock.com, DISH Network and other brands across its sites, including 1-800-Flowers.com, 1-800-Baskets.com and FruitBouquets.com. The move underscores the marketing buzz the mention of bitcoin can generate even though it is an unofficial currency and considered experimental.