Suit Challenges Landlord's Digital Payment Policy; Tenants See Elder Bias

Some apartment complexes are beginning to make it mandatory for tenants to pay rent digitally. Recently, a suit was filed by four older residents in an apartment complex in Los Angeles, to fight the landlord's policy of mandatory digital payments. Residents of the Woodlake Manor Apartment building received waivers from the policy after a tenants right group organized a mass protest. Some residents believe that a Los Angeles rent stabilization ordinance is driving the Landlord to enforce the digital payment policy, because older residents pay lower rents.

The landlord, Jones & Jones Management Group Inc., argues that the policy is a "green" initiative to save paper and will not be used as a basis for eviction. With technology moving in the direction it is, paper will soon become secondary, and the older generation may have trouble catching up with digital payment methods.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/suit_challenges_landlords_digital_payment_policy_tenants_see_elder_bias/

The Square: Digital Payments by Iphone

Square is the new mobile digital payment system company founded by Jack Dorsey, who is one of the main founders of Twitter. He is now changing the world for both digital payment consumers and merchants by allowing the use of credit card payments anywhere with your Iphone, Ipad or Android phone. It is a FREE app and a FREE peripheral device, which can be ordered from their website. The device connects into your headphone jack, and allows you to swipe a credit card through making the transaction. The money then gets deposited to what ever bank account you designate.The only catch is that they want 2.75% of the transactions that occur when using the device/service. I have already ordered mine just to see what all the hype is about, it's free so why not! Say your friend wants to purchase something from you but doesn't have the cash on him, just tell him to swipe his card and the item is all his. It may seem that Square will soon become a competitor with PayPal as many merchants are already frustrated with some of its current policys. PayPal does have a large percentage of the market for digital payments but should definitely be on the lookout for the increasing growth of this new company and form of digital payment.
Heres a youtube link for a review of the product for all you skeptics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0BwYz1P0BE

The official website to order "The Square" is www.squareup.com. It's easy an convient but does ask for some personal information to verify who you say you are.


References:
www.squareup.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0BwYz1P0BE
http://www.getthefive.com/articles/the-idealist/square-the-little-four-sided-payment-device-that-i/

E-Commerce in countries

Electronic commerce has the potential to improve efficiency and productivity in many areas and, therefore, has received significant attention in many countries. However, there has been some doubt about the relevance of ecommerce for developing countries. The absence of adequate basic infrastructural, socio-economic and the lack of government national strategies have created a significant barrier in the adoption and growth of e-commerce in developing countries. The study shows that, in order to understand the adoption and diffusion of ecommerce in developing countries, cultural issues need to be considered.

The obstacles to reaping the benefits brought about by e-commerce are often underestimated. Accessing the Web is possible only when telephones and PCs are available, but these technologies are still in very scarce supply. In addition to this problem, Internet access is still very costly – both in absolute terms and relative to per-capita income - in most developing countries. While PC prices have fallen dramatically over the last decade, they remain beyond the reach of most individual users and enterprises in developing countries (Odedra-Straub, 2003). Add to this, the human capital cost of installing, operating, maintaining, training and support, the costs are beyond the means of many enterprises in developing countries. There are significant disparities in the level of Internet penetration across regions, which have profound implications for an individual country's ability to participate in ecommerce. Moreover, skilled personnel are often lacking, the transport facilities are poor, and secure payment facilities non-existent in many countries (Odedra-Straub, 2003). Other than the insufficient physical infrastructures, the electronic transaction facilities are deficient and the legal and regulatory framework inadequate. Most consumer markets face severe limitations in terms of connectivity, ability to pay, deliveries, willingness to make purchases on the Web, ownership of credit cards, and access to other means of payment for online purchases and accessibility in terms of physical deliveries. Moreover, the low level of economic development and small per-capita incomes, the limited skills base with which to build e-commerce services (Odedra-Straub, 2003).

SHOULD SOME DEVELOPING COUNTRIES EVEN TRY TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF E-COMMERCE ???

HOW DOES CULTURES AFFECT THE WAY WE USE DIGITAL PAYMENTS ???