Tag Archives: Device

BlackBerry as Mobile banking device

With the generation next going high on the mobile banking applications m-commerce is on a rise like never before. The financial institutions like banks are the “customer is king” philosophy followers and urge to give all the facilities demanded by their customers.

Mobility is not just in the entrepreneurial level, but has a role to play in every walk of life. Since the advent of Smartphone technology, RIM’s very own BlackBerry was a reigning device then. After being embraced for the e-mail and corporate messaging, this device was a pride possession with all sections of people. When the monetary transactions were enabled via Smartphones, unfortunately Blackberry was not the desired device by the banking professionals and customers.

The major reasons being the cumbersome interfaces that are difficult to adapt and finally the applications are not flexible or robust. Mobile banking apps for anyone should be highly flexible for a safe and secure transaction. BlackBerry’s networks are public in all sense and this is the reason that security is the main threat for any platform to qualify as a mobile banking platform. Though this device is best for contact management, email clients and calendaring mobile banking is a more sensitive data that cannot be compromised at any cost.

Another aspect that influences heavily in the choice of the mobile platform is the cost of the applications. Blackberry applications are expensive when compared to iphone or android. Installation of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server or BlackBerry Express is mandatory to achieve a full integration with the other features of the BlackBerry suite. Only if the device is covered under the BES, all activities can be controlled and streamlined by the administrator. This additional activity though a secure solution for the public networks of the BlackBerry is a layer of complexity on the business class device.

If one can afford the investment in the BES, the fear of security can be conquered as the administrator enable or disable some apps or features without any interruption. Also log requests can be made for all the activities that have been done.  Thus, mobile banking can only be safe on the BlackBerry devices only if the BES is installed fully and accurately.

Another alternative to combat the expensive BES is the BES Express. But even with this, the user has to deploy an additional server. Thus, the solution provided by the RIM has not been attractive enough to be accepted by the urban common crowd. The trends of accessing account transactions, mobile payments and applying of the credits from any place and any point of time requires a stable and secure platform. BlackBerry should focus on these trends to make a mark in the mobile banking era.

Apart from the investments that have to be made for the BlackBerry, this device with more innovation from RIM is a mandatory to woo not only the enterprise customers but also must appeal to the consumer market. This strategy will definitely influence the BlackBerry Mobile Banking share in a positive way.

Endeavour Software Technologies, Bangalore

Since 2002, Endeavour – The Mobility Company, has remained focused on strategic mobile consulting & mobile application development. Endeavour’s strategic consulting practice especially on iphone development brings best mobility practices and has helped large organizations and fortune 500 companies with articulating their enterprise mobility strategies and implementation roadmaps. Endeavour’s expertise spans across all mobile operating platforms including the big 4 – Android application development, iPhone Application development, BlackBerry application development, and Windows Phone development.

Retail banking on mobile device

This application brings various features like online secure banking, payment of utility bills, monitoring portfolios, mini bank statements, fund transfer within same bank account or other bank accounts to the hand held communication devices. Thus, m-commerce is a very necessary update that bridges the business transactions and the busy life. With this feature enabled on the cell-phones, the users can avoid the overdue payments and therefore, plan up an organized financial discipline for themselves.

Business Challenge:

Internet and mobile: These are two technological advancements that have profoundly affected human behavior in the last decade. This has lead to various mobile data services being offered but the challenge had been to ensure the security of data being communicated over the network and that residing on the mobile phone.

Mobile (m-) banking (one of the first areas of commercial transaction on the wireless internet) has had similar concerns and the growth has therefore been limited.

The solution required the user to carry out entire set of retail banking activities which till now were only possible over the wired network.

Benefits:

The solution provides online secure banking to the user for managing their accounts using their mobiles thereby giving an enhanced user experience every-time he logs in. It also provides the user to conveniently pay their bills and manage portfolios using their mobile devices.

The extension of the internet banking is the m-banking where the customer requirement is reduced from having a fully fledged PC to a bare mobile phone. The banking transactions now are not only on the finger tips but also within one’s pocket or purse. It also enables the transactions without any time limitations on geographical issues.

The most common technologies are

1. Interactive Voice Response

2.Short Message Service

3.Wireless Access Protocol

4. Standalone Mobile Application Clients.

The biggest decision that banks need to make is the channel that they will support their services on. The m- banking scenario is not universal and its structures and purposes vary from country to country. The various financial functions that can be operated using the mobile phones are micropayments to merchants, bill-payments to utilities, P2P transfers between individuals, and long-distance remittances.

The m banking method is generally less expensive than any of the alternatives being available. It is also said by Mercatus, the world’s premier university source for market-oriented ideas that, banks that offer mobile financial services can increase their new customers’ acquisitions by as much as sixty percent. The mobile adoption is increasing the past techniques of online banking, ATMs and debit cards.

About Endeavour Software Technologies

Endeavour provides strategic consulting and technology services with an aim to deliver end to end mobile solutions across different mobile platforms.  Specializing in iphone application development, it can enable businesses in the manufacturing, media, print, healthcare, consumer solutions, Telecom and Business Intelligence verticals.

Car Finance Calculator – A Device To Ease The Finance Process

Car finance calculator is one of the finest tools that can assist in making a decision on whether you can acquire a loan or not. On the other hand, if you have sufficient funds to buy a spanking new vehicle, then it is perfect to steer clear of the interest linked with the car finance.

Before acquiring any type of loan, be it personal, business or a cheap car loan, it is vital to search for the finest car finance company. And it is very much significant to consider several aspects that can be of assistance to you in choosing it and those are:

Firstly, the interest rates that the bank or car finance company will levy on you.
What are the costs as well as charges that you have to compensate?
If ever you are unable to compensate it earlier or in time, then what would be the consequences?
Will there be any concessions if ever you compensate it earlier than the owing dates?
 How long will it take to process the car finance?
Are you entitled to acquire the loan?

There are lots of queries that we have to answer  before we take any actions in getting the car financed , and a car finance calculator is one of the means to help us answer these issues and come to a decision on whether we should go for it or not. It can help us to work out the expected interest rate that we are supposed to pay, conditional on the cost of the vehicle. It can moreover provide us the expected concessions that we can obtain and can also make a distinction between the savings that we can acquire from acquisition straightforwardly from the store and from the car finance company.

Car finance calculator can help you in staying away from additional charges, as a number of car loans companies include some extra fees or charges that are added to the precise amount of the vehicle that you intend to buy.

Examples of these are the charges for registration, insurance, accessories that are incorporated during the time of your acquisition etc.

Adam Reedy writes about “Car Finance” – For more information on car loan, car finance, car finance calculator and cheap car loan log on to – Fincar.com.au