eBay demonstrated yet again it can’t ignore a mobile device simply because it’s from a rival. Amazon’s new smartphone, called the Fire, just became available to consumers, and PayPal is ready with a mobile app. The move follow’s eBay’s launch of its mobile app for the Fire.
But at the same time, Amazon is expanding its payments offering with a digital wallet and a rumored card reader.
The PayPal App for the Amazon Fire Phone lets users check balances and see recent activity, send and request money, and check-in to pay at merchants that accept PayPal. PayPal Senior Director of Global Product Solutions Joel Yarbrough announced the new app on the PayPal blog, writing, “So, now whether you’re using your phone to shop and pay on iOS, Android or Fire OS, you’re getting a consistent and seamless PayPal experience.”
Yarbrough went on to highlight the apps that eBay and StubHub optimized for Amazon’s Fire. “The eBay app lets you access top eBay Deals from Fire Phone’s home screen, and when shopping in the app you can search eBay inventory with the tilt gesture. With the StubHub app, you can get a 360-degree view of the stadium from your seats.”
The PayPal app for the Fire lets users manage their PayPal digital wallet, “including adding loyalty cards and managing your debit and credit cards from the app,” Yarbrough said.
Amazon just launched its own digital wallet. And a new report from 9to5mac.com says Amazon is readying a credit card reader that competes with Square (and with PayPal Here).
