PayPal for Mobile Browse-n-Buy

It was around this time last year that PayPal launched its text-based mobile payment service. Eh, cool, but text-to-buy or ‘send money by phone’ is pretty far from a mobile web shopping experience. Now, word is out that PayPal is working hard on its mobile web based buying service, which is still in beta, but will be rolled out over the coming months.

De Gardener writes that PayPal’s mobile web service called Mobile Checkout will be similar to the online shopping experience with PayPal, and is targeted for people who are browsing and trying to buy stuff on mobile web sites. He shows some images and more detailed info.

PayPal already advertises the mobile browsing service on its site and says:

“With a web-enabled phone, you can go to your favorite site, buy, and check out easily with PayPal. You’ll log on and securely confirm payment just like you do on a computer. Look for it on select merchant sites.”

We spoke with a source close to the situation who says that the mobile web PayPal service is still in testing mode but will be more widely available in a couple months. At launch time the service will be available and free to anyone who’s phone has access to the mobile web.

Why is this important? Mobile payments (using your phone to buy stuff) in the U.S. is a much discussed topic but with little to show for it. Consumers are just getting used to paying for goods online, and mobile payments, at least in the US seem like a bit of a stretch. Maybe a web-based experience taken to the mobile environment can push this along.

Update: We heard PayPal PR is forwarding around our post to interested journalists and adding some extra info along with it — that PayPal Mobile Checkout users will be able to type in a URL on your mobile phone, pick the item to buy, and pay for the item in two steps. And here’s a short article that the WSJ just put up. So there you go.

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