Alibaba's Alipay Wallet App Links to Xiaomi's Mi Band for Easy Payments
Meghan Young — April 16, 2015 — Tech
References: intl.alipay & torontosun
Alibaba's digital Alipay Wallet will soon be more than a mobile app. The company has partnered up with Xiaomi in order for it to sync with the latter's Mi Band smart fitness bracelet. Helping Alibaba's finance arm cross more fully into the wearable tech industry, it benefits the consumer in a number of ways. Namely, through the Alipay Wallet wearable, people won't have to use a password anymore.
Encrypted to ensure information is safe and secure during such transactions, the Alipay Wallet wearable tech currently works with the Android mobile operating system. Yet it is set to an Apple Watch-friendly version in the near future. Bringing convenience to the consumer, this is one simple way in which financial companies are embracing technology to improve their service in meaningful and efficient ways.
Encrypted to ensure information is safe and secure during such transactions, the Alipay Wallet wearable tech currently works with the Android mobile operating system. Yet it is set to an Apple Watch-friendly version in the near future. Bringing convenience to the consumer, this is one simple way in which financial companies are embracing technology to improve their service in meaningful and efficient ways.
Trend Themes
1. Wearable Payment Tech - Integration between Alipay Wallet and Xiaomi's Mi Band showcases potential for a new market segment of contactless payment via wearables.
2. Password-less Authentication - The Alipay Wallet wearable eliminates the need for a password during transactions, paving the way for a more secure and efficient authentication system in the payments industry.
3. Cross-industry Collaboration - Partnerships between finance and tech companies, such as Alibaba and Xiaomi, demonstrates the potential for innovation through collaboration and the merging of different industries.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile Payments - Integrating wearable technology with mobile payments presents opportunities for seamless and secure transactions without having to use a physical card or cash.
2. Fitness Technology - Building on the trend of wearables in fitness, the integration of Alipay Wallet and Xiaomi's Mi Band demonstrates how the industry can expand beyond tracking health metrics and delve into other functionalities such as payments.
3. Financial Technology - Collaborative efforts between fintech and wearables present opportunities for increased convenience, security, and efficiency in financial transactions.
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