Handster: Buy Directly From Your Pocket PC

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.handster.com/pressreleases/2006/feb27.php' target='_blank'>http://www.handster.com/pressreleas.../2006/feb27.php</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Handster provides a solution for integration of payment into shareware programs. Software developers can extend existing conventional registration with the payment screens. Integrated programs have a 'Buy' button in the menu and show a "Buy/Try" screen on startup. On clicking the "Buy" button in the program the user can enter his credit card directly on his PDA. Secure SSL transaction is executed via GPRS (if available) or via ActiveSync when the PDA synchronizes with an Internet-connected desktop PC. Once the payment is completed, the application gets unlocked automatically."</i><br /><br /><img src=http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/payment.gif><br /><br />Handster is now providing a service allowing you to register the software they sell directly from your Pocket PC. I can see this as handy when you're travelling and have that trial expire on you, but I wonder how ready we are to start purchasing goods &amp; services from our handhelds: Anyone engage in e-commerce from their PPC?

[Raphael Salgado]

Their site seems pretty new, since the forum is empty and all the Quick Links don't work.

Spb Software seems to be the only one premiering this technology, but one thing I'd be concerned about (which is not mentioned) is how well their API is written and protected against hacking. They do say that "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link," so if everyone jumps on board with this middleware solution, then some guy happens to find a common "crack" or weakness for it, it will be a "free for all," which will be very bad for the developing community.

I'd certainly like to hear their response to this.

[wirelessbeachbum]

I will often pay my bills (last minute) online on my Pocket PC, and I will often download trials, but will usually pay for the trials on a PC after I shop around for the best price.

[Victor Shaburov]

Hi guys,

thank you for the questions.
Yes, we are new - with this Press Release we started our first sales.

Some statistics from the first 13 days of sales:
80% of buyers perfer to use embedded payment screens, where only 20% buying in old-fashioned way via online payments. The feedback from users is that it is very user-friendly way to do payment.

From this 80% about 50% sales are executed immediatly and 30% are executed in several days. That means developer wins more customers by bundling software with payment.

About 'cracking' - we provide only payment and reselling API, not standard registration mechanism. Software developer continues to use his own registration mechanism and just integrates our payment. Different developers will do it differently, and probability to have one crack for all is low.
Also cracks are clearly illigal, and one can get virus with crack.
I would never risk installing cracks on the PDA and I hope most user would not do it too.

Let me know if you have more questions!

With best regards,
Victor Shaburov
Handster.com CEO