The Application of Pre-paid Cash Card For Consumers

A pre-paid card is like a credit or debit card. Its give consumers ability to purchase the products and services with a card by just swap the card on the counter.

Because it is a prepaid card, spending limits are set by the amount of money you load onto the card. When you make a purchase with the pre-paid card, the purchase amount is deducted from the card balance. You can add more money on a regular basis or whenever the money runs low.

There are numerous benefits offer by pre-paid card. Pre-paid card have no credit checks, which means you can get a card without worrying about your credit history. Second, its do not have debt risk. With a prepaid card, you do not worry about you spend too much as you are limited to the amount you put on your card. Third, it is safety because you not need to carry large amount of cash to purchase the products and services. If your card gets lost or stolen, your remaining balance will be transferred across to a new account, and you will receive a replacement card.


One of the examples of prepaid card is Touch n Go card. Touch n Go card uses contactless smartcard technology. The card looks similar to a credit card. User can continue using the card as long as it is pre-loaded with electronic cash. User can reload the card at many places such as toll plazas, train stations, Automated Teller Machines, and Cash Deposit Machines.

Touch ‘n Go card enhances the speed of paying for low value but high frequency transactions. Apart from the speed, it is also very convenient because user no longer need to prepare for small change or wait in queue at the cash lane to complete the transaction.

A review of E-Commerce website :
Florist Malaysia

Brief Profile

Florist Malaysia is a specialized store--an online florist specialising in free delivery of fresh flowers, Hand Bouquets, Flower Basket, Fruits & Flowers, Gifts & Flowers, Congratulatory Flora Stands and Cakes to most areas within Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Klang Valley and main cities in Malaysia.

Transaction Process
The design of its homepage is simple, clear, easy to read but attractive. There are catalogs on left side showing various flowers and gifts which categorized by types of products, seasons and occasions. By clicking on any categories, it then turns to another page which displays the description and price of the particular item. For the transaction using US Dollar, there is the price list in USD.

With an intend of purchase, one has 2 options:
(1) Order the item. It requires the buyer to provide details regarding order, billing, recipient, message card, and payment method.

(2) Add the item to shopping cart and continue shopping! Payment procedure is same as above.

The buyers may add some accessories to the item selected to make the item more perfect! Nonetheless, there are only 5 payment methods included credit card and bank fund transfer. This imposes limitations to the buyers and might affect the sales.

Information Provided
It provides a FAQ site to answer the queries of visitors. If they still have problems, they may contact the store as the contact details stated in the website. Information regarding store address, registration number, delivery time and venue, customer contact centre, terms and conditions and career opportunity are provided by the website.

In general...this is a simple design website with attractive products. The product prices are considered reasonable as purchase online saves a lot of effort, time, and transportation cost. However, there is room for improvement especially the design of website. It may refer to some famous websites such as Nokia.

all pic source from http://www.love.com.my/index.asp

UTAR COMPUTERS

Just had RMP test in UTAR lab. When I left 2 questions to complete my test, the screen suddenly zoomed out until I cannot read the words. Called Mr Yap and then the people came to ''recover'' the computer. Within a few second, the computer can function but my answers were ALL GONE! No choice, I had to answer the test again on the papers...

My goodness...UTAR computers have been well-known with its ''efficiency'' and ''security''. Every student would have experienced it if he/she studies in UTAR. If students can answer the online test through WBLE at home, it will be faster and easier. But now we have no choice....

pic source : http://www.mobile-weblog.com/50226711/mcommerce.gif

Mobile payment systems in Malaysia:
Its potentials and consumers’ adoption strategies

Mobile payment is a point-of-sale payment made through a mobile device such as mobile phone, smartphone, or personal digital assistant (PDA). So how does mobile payment work? For instance, in a restaurant, the bill can be paid directly from the table without waiting for waiter to bring the check. The patron would simply connect to the cash register with a wireless device ( eg. smartphone), punch in the table number and bank personal identification number (PIN), authorize payment and whole payment is done.


The latest product of mobile payment is Mobile Money or MM Wallet. Mobile Money is a PIN-based mobile payment solution launched by Mobile Money International Sdn Bhd to address the flaws and bottlenecks brought by cash, cheques and credit cards. Maybank MM Wallet allows consumers to use their mobile phones to make domestic fund transfer and purchases of selected goods and services up to RM500 in value. A RM0.50 fee is charged per transaction.

Besides ordinary users, merchants are targeted market in Malaysia. They can sell to people across town, across the country and take payment around the clock, which is not possible with traditional payment systems. Transaction fee of MM Wallet is relatively cheap compared to credit card interest fee. Moreover, they only need an existing account to apply for MM Wallet. It saves them a lot of time and money to deal with these matters.

pic source : http://www.mobile-money.com/images/aboutus/image012.jpg

pic source : http://www.mobile-money.com/images/aboutus/image014.jpg

What we concerned is how would the consumers perceive and adopt this payment system? There are a few factors consumers might take into consideration when deciding whether to use MM Wallet:

1) Relative advantages of MM Wallet.
Compare the advantages of MM Wallet with traditional payment instruments pertain to time and location independent purchase possibilities.

2) Compatibility.
The ability of consumers to integrate MM Wallet into their daily lives.

3) Complexity.
Ease of use and convenience expected from the payment system.

4) Payment system security and trust in payment system provider.
The key requirements for secure financial transactions in electronic environment include confidentiality, data integrity, authentication, and non-repudiation.


source from http://project.hkkk.fi/helsinkimobility/papers/Mobile%20Applications_2_3.pdf

pic source : http://ktim.edu.my/moodle/file.php/1/exam_comic.jpg

Are you one of them???

We will have RMP test this coming Friday and yet I am not prepared for the test. I think most of you are in the same condition when talking about RMP. Anyway, wish all of us GOOD LUCK in our test...(we really need luck and for sure effort is needed)

pic source : http://bux.to/?r=hackerz0308

Article from Ecommerze.blogspot.com

Impact - to fight cyber terrorism

Malaysian Government has approved RM43 million to set up an international centre which offer the world the best brains and facilities to help fight cyber security threats.

The center is called International Multinational Partnership Against Cyber Terrorism(IMPACT). It will be based in Cyberjaya with leading names in the IT industry serving on its advisory board.

This will be the world's first international public-private sector collaborative institution against cyber terrorism. This idea was brought out last year by our Malaysian Prime Minister at the World Congress on Information Technology in Austin, US.

Well known names like Symantec Corporation, TrendMicro, F-Secure and Kaperskylab have agreed to be the key partners and serving the advisory board.

IMPACT will be run and coordinated by two local IT companies namely Ascendsys Sdn Bhd, a security services company and GITN Sdn Bhd, a government IT network company.

source from http://ecommerze.blogspot.com/search/label/Internet%20Security


Blogger's comment :

The purpose of fighting cyber security threats is good and encouraging. Security threats have been an issue when dealing with any internet activities and also the nightmare to all internet users. Thus, implementation of this project is most welcomed. However, the real questions are:

1. Does our government has the capability to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible?
2. Does our government has the necessary skills and knowledge to fend cyber-attacks?

These are crucial as we are dealing with high technology and it is ever changing and complicated. Frequent update and maintenance is vital to ensure the functionality of systems. Therefore, the government has to pump a sum of money into the maintenance works every year.

Take a look at government related websites, what do you think about those websites' maintenance? Are they up-to-date? Do they provide adequate information? Are they user-friendly? If the answers are majority yes, it indicates that the government is ready to implement such a project.

This project involves a huge amount of funds and thus a good and detailed plan is needed.to ensure the objectives achieved. Yet, I still have some questions. Can this project be carried out as planned? how to measure its effectiveness? Who, as a third party, will superintend the progress of project?

Looking at the past mega projects that launched by the government, which one has achieved its objectives successfully and efficiently? Proton? MSC? Singapore Bridge? Penang Bridge? Southern Johor Economic Region?

So, will this project be a success finally? We will wait and see.

The threat of online security: How safe is our data?

In future Malaysia, e-commerce might be an usual transaction and most people trade online. However, it is hard to realize if the online security is not stringent enough. It is because one of the factors that influence consumer behaviour is perceived security and privacy. That is why until today e-commerce is not so popular in Malaysia even though it brings many advantages to the users.

I always read the news of whose credit card details were being leaked or stolen and suffered losses and inconvenience. When I purchased airline ticket through internet, somehow I have faith in the website's security level (maybe it is because the airline company is operating through internet and no security problem since incorporated). And, it proves that I was right because til today I have no subsequent problem.

Despite the websites have taken security procedures, there is certain level of risk we expose to. So, how can we protect ourselves when we engage in e-commerce activities? Be alert, resist temptation, don't simply believe in those generous offers, install antivirus,antispyware softwares...are not enough. We need to always update ourselves, knowing what is hot..(about what threats users are facing currently)

http://www.iss.net/threats/ThreatList.php
This website provides the latest information on Internet threats and vulnerabilities through notifications, such as X-Force Protection Advisories and Alerts. These notifications provide customers with information about how IBM ISS products and services can protect against the threat.

The Symantec Internet Security Threat Report offers analysis and discussion of threat activity over a six-month period. It covers Internet attacks, vulnerabilities, malicious code, phishing, spam and security risks as well as future trends.

Safer online shopping

source from http://youtube.com/watch?v=tXV8kMDsAuI