20131226-2014: Will Merchants Beckon For Beacons?
Using the radio, GPS and Bluetooth technologies in smartphones, vendors in 2013 ventured closer to providing the frictionless, hands-free payment experience necessary to convince consumers to give up paying with plastic. The technology also potentially can enable merchants to market products and services to consumers directly via their phones. In 2014, we could learn whether merchants and consumers find the advanced mobile payment and marketing capabilities to their liking, or whether they represent just another overly hyped mobile service.