Digitalisation, e-commerce, mobile payment: the use of online services is modifying the perimeter of action of companies and causing interesting changes in consumption models, thanks to the progressive diffusion of smartphones and tablets, ever faster connections and the evolution represented by the so-called Internet of Things.
Despite the persistence of the digital divide - which places our country in the last places in the European rankings - the data presented in the latest Report of the Mobile Payment & Commerce Observatory of the School of Management of the Milan Polytechnic, give us an encouraging picture for what regards the diffusion of electronic and mobile payment systems. In fact, digital payments are recording a positive trend supported by New Digital Payments, which in 2015 reached 21 billion euros (+22% compared to 2014) and are worth 13% of total digital payments. Among the digital payment methods, mobile remote payment, which also includes mobile ticketing operations, recorded a 2015% increase in 75, exceeding 300 million euros.
“The use of smartphones to purchase digital content – such as music, videos and games – in which Italy, according to the latest AGCom Annual Report, exceeds the European average (52% against 49%), is joined by a favorable orientation in the use by the final consumer of an ever wider range of online services, in which mobile payment plays a key role – declares Raffaele Rossetti, President of AssoCSP, the Association of Content Service Providers -. Payment methods alternative to cash have become an integral part of the consumer's daily life thanks to the development of solutions promoted by the world of supply, but also thanks to the strong impetus of national and European institutions towards the diffusion of digital payment instruments", he adds President.
The "Digitalization of the PA" law, recently approved by the Italian Government, should be interpreted in this direction, thanks to which electronic payments have become a widespread reality within the public administration; also within the competition bill, currently under discussion in the Senate, art. 22 "Measures to encourage digital payments". The European delegation bill, definitively approved by the Senate last week, also goes in the same direction, within which the European PSD II directive will be implemented, which encourages the diffusion of micro-payments through telephone credit for the purchase of digital content, raising the maximum threshold for digital payments to €50 for one-off transactions and €300 per month, even in the case of a subscription.
The AGCom decision to launch a public consultation for the revision of the National Numbering Plan in relation to the mobile payment and mobile ticketing services offered in decade 48 - which include both the transport sector and the category of entertainment services – providing for the raising of the maximum price threshold applicable to the customer from 5 euros to 12,50 euros for each transaction. At the same time, the Authority has launched a public consultation for the new bill 2.0, with details on charges and tools that guarantee greater protection for consumers in relation to the activation of premium paid services.
“The thrust of national and European institutions towards micro-payments responds to the need to encourage simple and secure mobile purchases. The associated companies operating in this sector invest continuously not only to offer innovative and efficient solutions but also to guarantee informed and secure purchases, as evidenced by our Self-Regulation Code" - comments Raffaele Rossetti, President of AssoCSP - "On behalf of all Associates I welcome AGCom's guidelines with particular satisfaction, which, on the one hand, open up favorable scenarios for the core business of some of our associates, and on the other, have as their objective customer protection in terms of activation services and data protection. Our goal has always been to develop the business of member companies, promoting the safe and informed use of value-added services (VAS): we are happy that the institutions are looking in this direction” concludes the President.
AssoCSP is the Association of content providers and value-added services for mobile telephony (Content Service Providers). The Association, founded in 2009, brings together and represents the main Italian companies and leading multinationals in the mobile content sector – such as Buongiorno, Digital Galaxy, Freenet, Interactive 3G, Neomobile, Pure Bros, Tekka, Vetrya and Zed. The Association is a non-profit organization and was created with a dual purpose: on the one hand, to promote economic and industrial policies that favor the creation of a regulatory environment that encourages investments in the value-added services sector; on the other, contribute to the definition of shared rules for the benefit of companies and consumers. In this regard, the Association has prepared a Self-Regulatory Code (CASP) since its establishment, which will soon reach a new version with the aim of guaranteeing conscious activation by the consumer and, consequently, an ethical development of the business in line with the provisions of the AGCom.
