PayPal introduces mobile service

PayPal introduces mobile service

SAN FRANCISCO - PayPal, the largest online payment service in the world has introduced a facility to allow users to send and receive payments through cell phones and other mobile devices. PayPal, which is owned by eBay, is testing the new service called PayPal Mobile and eBay spokeswoman Amanda Pires said the service would be available in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom within the next few weeks.

The service will be extended to 55 countries covered by PayPal after some time. Users will be able to make person-to-person payments using PayPal Mobile and also donate to charities besides being able to buy items like CDs or DVDs by sending the product code as text messages. Users will have to activate their phone and a case sensitive PIN will be allotted to them. Funds can also be transferred using voice commands.

PayPal Mobile users have the option of contacting an automated customer service system for doing so. If they opt for this they will have to call 1-800-4PAYPAL. They can also use text messages to make the transfer of funds.

PayPal currently has over 100 million user accounts and it is estimated that the mobile service will enable it to reach out to untapped markets in developing countries where a phone is the best way of connecting to the Internet. EBay had acquired PayPal in 2002. Users can visit Paypal's website http://paypal.com in order to activate their phones.