Portaltech First to Launch UK Retail mCommerce App Featuring PayPal's Mobile Express Checkout

Portaltech First to Launch UK Retail mCommerce App Featuring PayPal's Mobile Express Checkout

LONDON, August 31, 2010--     Portaltech and PayPal have partnered to help retailers offer their
customers a fast and secure checkout experience on mobile devices. The move
comes shortly after PayPal released its Mobile Express Checkout - a mobile
optimised version of its Express Checkout service.

    Mark Adams, Sales Director at Portaltech explains: "As Smartphone
adoption increases and mCommerce becomes more important to Portaltech and our
retail clients, we recognised the need to expand the payment options on our
QuickLive mCommerce solution and to find a quick and easy payment solution
for end customers that would make payment via mobile, convenient, seamless
and secure."

    Portaltech's partnership with PayPal was driven by recent research
conducted by the company and eDigital Research; in this study, the companies
sought to understand the influencing factors and features of mobile apps,
from a consumer's perspective. Of those people polled, 'Convenience' was one
of the top 3 most mentioned benefits of shopping via a mobile phone. 86%
revealed that they already have a PayPal account and a further 8% said they
'Wanted one'. The study also found that 20% of those with a smartphones had
made a purchase via their mobile phones, with an incredible 93% rating this
as a 'positive experience'. A further 20% said they "Expected to spend more
via their mobiles in the next 12 months."

    Rachel Wilkinson, Head of Brand & Retail at Portaltech says: "Our
QuickLive mCommerce app for the iPhone provides a mobile platform for
retailers to showcase their range to consumers who want to browse and buy
quickly and easily via their mobiles. Key to the success of any app is the
convenience and usability factor and we wanted to ensure that we got the
checkout functionality right." She continued: "Our research showed that the
majority of customers polled already had a PayPal account and that PayPal was
the preferred payment method via mobile. In addition, there are 26 million
PayPal accounts held in the UK. We couldn't ignore this feedback and PayPal
became a 'must have' feature for our QuickLive mCommerce checkout."

    Cameron McLean, General Manager, Merchant Services, PayPal UK, commented:
"PayPal sees mobile as the next wave of growth for retailers. We have opened
our secure payment platform to third parties like Portaltech to enable them
to develop innovative mobile solutions for their clients. Shoppers can use
their PayPal account to pay on their mobile phones, with the same security
and convenience they enjoy on their PC."

    Portaltech's first retailer iPhone App using PayPal's Mobile Express
Checkout will be released for L.K. Bennett in September.

   
    To organise a demonstration of Portaltech's QuickLive mobile app,
    contact:

    Rachel Wilkinson, Head of Brand & Retail:
    Rachel.wilkinson@portaltech.co.uk
    T: +44(0)207-981-0023

    NOTES:

    QuickLive mCommerce: This is the brand name for Portaltech's mobile app
commerce platform. This integrates into Portaltech's QuickLive eCommerce
platform, but can also standalone independently and integrate with retailer's
systems. The QuickLive mCommerce app allows customers to browse and purchase,
search for nearby stores, share product on Facebook or via e-mail, create
product wishlists and browse 'Look Books', via their mobile devices.

    About Portaltech

    Portaltech is an award winning eBusiness consultancy that specialises in
the design, implementation, integration and support of eCommerce, mCommerce
and multi channel retail solutions.

    Portaltech have been operating since 1999 and have delivered over 200
successful projects for market leading B2C and B2B brands and retailers,
including LK Bennett, The Body Shop, Sony, Vodafone, Long Tall Sally,
Thompson & Morgan, Bombay Duck and The Royal Mail Group.

   
    For further information and for PR or trade enquiries, please contact:

    Rachel Wilkinson, Head of Brand & Retail, Portaltech:
    Rachel.wilkinson@portaltech.co.uk
    T: +44(0)207-9810023 M: +44(0)788971995

Source: Portaltech

For further information and for PR or trade enquiries, please contact: Rachel Wilkinson, Head of Brand & Retail, Portaltech: Rachel.wilkinson@portaltech.co.uk, T: +44(0)207-9810023 M: +44(0)788971995