LONDON, August 31, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Portaltech and PayPal have partnered to help retailers offer their customers a fast and secure checkout experience on mobile devices. The move comes shortly after PayPal released its Mobile Express Checkout - a mobile optimised version of its Express Checkout service.

Mark Adams, Sales Director at Portaltech explains: As Smartphone adoption increases and mCommerce becomes more important to Portaltech and our retail clients, we recognised the need to expand the payment options on our QuickLive mCommerce solution and to find a quick and easy payment solution for end customers that would make payment via mobile, convenient, seamless and secure.

Portaltech's partnership with PayPal was driven by recent research conducted by the company and eDigital Research; in this study, the companies sought to understand the influencing factors and features of mobile apps, from a consumer's perspective. Of those people polled, 'Convenience' was one of the top 3 most mentioned benefits of shopping via a mobile phone. 86% revealed that they already have a PayPal account and a further 8% said they 'Wanted one'. The study also found that 20% of those with a smartphones had made a purchase via their mobile phones, with an incredible 93% rating this as a 'positive experience'. A further 20% said they Expected to spend more via their mobiles in the next 12 months.

Rachel Wilkinson, Head of Brand Retail at Portaltech says: Our QuickLive mCommerce app for the iPhone provides a mobile platform for retailers to showcase their range to consumers who want to browse and buy quickly and easily via their mobiles. Key to the success of any app is the convenience and usability factor and we wanted to ensure that we got the checkout functionality right. She continued: Our research showed that the majority of customers polled already had a PayPal account and that PayPal was the preferred payment method via mobile. In addition, there are 26 million PayPal accounts held in the UK. We couldn't ignore this feedback and PayPal became a 'must have' feature for our QuickLive mCommerce checkout.

Cameron McLean, General Manager, Merchant Services, PayPal UK, commented: PayPal sees mobile as the next wave of growth for retailers. We have opened our secure payment platform to third parties like Portaltech to enable them to develop innovative mobile solutions for their clients. Shoppers can use their PayPal account to pay on their mobile phones, with the same security and convenience they enjoy on their PC.

Portaltech's first retailer iPhone App using PayPal's Mobile Express Checkout will be released for L.K. Bennett in September.

To organise a demonstration of Portaltech's QuickLive mobile app, contact: Rachel Wilkinson, Head of Brand Retail: Rachel.wilkinson@portaltech.co.uk T: +44(0)207-981-0023

NOTES:

QuickLive mCommerce: This is the brand name for Portaltech's mobile app commerce platform. This integrates into Portaltech's QuickLive eCommerce platform, but can also standalone independently and integrate with retailer's systems. The QuickLive mCommerce app allows customers to browse and purchase, search for nearby stores, share product on Facebook or via e-mail, create product wishlists and browse 'Look Books', via their mobile devices.

About Portaltech

Portaltech is an award winning eBusiness consultancy that specialises in the design, implementation, integration and support of eCommerce, mCommerce and multi channel retail solutions.

Portaltech have been operating since 1999 and have delivered over 200 successful projects for market leading B2C and B2B brands and retailers, including LK Bennett, The Body Shop, Sony, Vodafone, Long Tall Sally, Thompson Morgan, Bombay Duck and The Royal Mail Group.

For further information and for PR or trade enquiries, please contact: Rachel Wilkinson, Head of Brand Retail, Portaltech: Rachel.wilkinson@portaltech.co.uk T: +44(0)207-9810023 M: +44(0)788971995

SOURCE: Portaltech

CONTACT: For further information and for PR or trade enquiries, pleasecontact: Rachel Wilkinson, Head of Brand Retail, Portaltech:Rachel.wilkinson@portaltech.co.uk, T: +44(0)207-9810023 M: +44(0)788971995