PayPal to Introduce Online Purchasing on TV?

PayPal is working with a US cable TV consortium to develop a new 'T-commerce' initiative in which consumers can pay for goods and services on their television.

The prototype service is being created at Canoe Ventures Innovation Lab, according to reports it is a 'test bed' environment created by the cable collective. Canoe's members include Bright House Networks, Cablevision Systems, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, and Time Warner Cable.

The consortium has invited Catalina Marketing, Delivery Agent, FourthWall Media, icueTV, and PayPal to address the use of RFI and T-commerce in interactive television.

Osama Bedier, vice president of platform, mobile and new ventures at PayPal explains the concept on the company blog:

"Today, I'm happy to say we're one step closer to equipping every living room in America with T-commerce powered by PayPal. We're working with Canoe Ventures, which was founded by the country's leading cable operators to create interactive products and services, to make this a reality. Other major players that have joined us include Catalina Marketing, Delivery Agent, FourthWall Media and icueTV. Canoe's "test bed" is Canoe Ventures Innovation Lab, where work is already underway.

"Together, we are pushing forward the very future of television as an interactive shopping experience that harnesses the ease and safety of PayPal. Imagine this: lounging on your couch and channel surfing, then finding that perfect birthday present. A few clicks of your remote, and you've purchased the gift via your PayPal account. Pretty cool, right?!

"We at PayPal believe that the wallet should live and will live "in the cloud." Internet-connected devices will be the very fabric of the digital lifestyle. And as televisions increasingly become Internet enabled, they open up whole new avenues for new ways to connect and sell to consumers directly. We are proud to support our developers as they push forward with this vision."

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PayPal Joins Micropayments System with Facebook, FT | WePay, a legit threat to PayPal | Mobile Express Checkout launched | Opportunity knocks - Mobile Banking & Payments

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