Passbook Rivalry: Lemon and Belly

The days are numbered. Passbook will soon be released to the public, and as a native app for iOS6, many are wondering whether Passbook will be the go to mobile commerce solution.  Apple is introducing something entirely new with Passbook, primarily being a digitalized wallet that stores tickets, loyalty cards, coupons and other passes.  It doesn't store credit card information, so it's not a fully fledged mobile payment system yet.

Already, there are many apps in the market that appear very similar to Passbook.  The apps worth mentioning, or the ones that most resemble Passbook are Lemon and Belly.  Both host a multitude of features that are very Passbook-esche.

The Lemon App

The Lemon app appears to contains more components compared to that of Passbook.  On top of Lemon's storage capabilities of membership cards, tickets, and loyalty cards, it even allows users to store copies of credit and debit cards, ID cards, and various forms of receipts.  Individuals only need to take a picture of their cards or whatever item is in their wallet, and immediately the images are converted into digitalized copies inside Lemon.  Each copy is then stacked neatly in that app, with a very similar user interface as Passbook's.

When it comes to variation, Lemon has the advantage as it can store more than what Passbook can.  It basically stores everything in your wallet, including credit and debit cards.  The cool function of storing receipts allows users to engage Lemon as a financial tool to track spending behavior and managing finances.  From this, reports or statements can be generated and exported into other 3rd party applications, like Excel or Numbers.

However, the largest downside to Lemon is that all the cards within the app cannot actually be used for transactions.  The app is basically a backup wallet, providing only copies of cards, but not the actual card itself.  It stores everything digitally so that users who forget to bring their wallet can have something to refer to, but the cards canot actually be used to pay for items.

The Belly App

If we look at the strategies used by Google Offers and Groupon, it's highly dependent on large volumes of short term, discounted prices.  This business model is merely for a quick business boost, and certainly not sustainable in the long run.  This is where Belly comes in.

The people behind the Belly app have one goal in mind: revolutionizing customer loyalty platforms.  It hosts functions that are more similar to Passbook's as it not only focuses on the retailer but also the user.  The app enables users to redeem loyalty points or rewards every time they visit an outlet or purchase an item.  Belly is the app that allows for the transition from paper to digital means, through substituting away from the traditional stamp cards.  In effect, membership plans for Belly even include supplying iPads at retailers to help make this customer loyalty scheme a success.

And Belly is not only for the benefit of smartphone users.  Merchants can provide paper versions of cards that contain QR codes on them so that they can be scanned at the point-of-sale.  This allows people without smartphones or devices to benefit from customer loyalty schemes too.  Belly caters to both smartphone and non-smartphone users in this regard, so as to not leave anyone out of this program.

The great thing about Belly is that customers only need to have their cards or digital cards scanned at the outlet, and are automatically given points or rewards to be accumulated.  This incentive is what could drive more customers into various stores.  And the best feature is that only one universal loyalty card is needed, and there doesn't have to be a different card for different stores.  Outlets signing up with Belly will essentially be adding their brand to the Belly app card.

The biggest downside for Belly is that outlets or merchants must be on board with what they provide.  They need to sign up for the membership plan, get the relevant equipment, and transition from old loyalty methods to new ones.  In order for Belly to be successful, merchants must see a need for this.

The Showdown

The Lemon and Belly apps are already widely being used throughout the United States.  Both have features that mirror Passbook's, with Lemon contributing as a backup digitalized wallet, and Belly focusing more on customer loyalty.  At this point in time, it's difficult to see just whether Passbook could entirely dominate the mobile commerce sector, but there is no doubt that it could eventually transform mobile payments indefinitely.

To learn more about Passbook features and even download sample Passbook passes, I encourage all of you to check out this website.  PassK.it will have a PassKit Pass Creator that allows everyone to create and design Passbook passes.  Check it out!

Understanding the Passbook API

With Apple making huge headlines in the news recently, and with its stock price reaching an all time high, many have started to talk about the new iPhone 5 and iOS6.  Passbook is one of the apps for iOS6 that will come out around September 12 along with the new iPhone.  Many people have already begun distributing sample Passbook passes, which all seems very cool.  But when Passbook actually is available for public use, businesses will be wondering how they could start creating and distributing their own passes through Passbook.  This is all possible with the Passbook API.

To begin with, an API represents Application Programming Interface.  In non-techy terms, this interface is a set of codes and languages that allows for other applications, websites, or devices to use another program's functions.  Essentially, the API for a program, app, or software allows another source to interface with it.

To illustrate, let's look at Tumblr.  Tumblr is a website that allows people to post blogs, pictures, videos, and just about anything to personalize their own blog page.  Initially, Tumblr began as a website and solely as a website, meaning users would have to log on to the domain and publish posts from there.  But with the adoption and growing popularity of mobile devices, many want to access these blogs on the go.  Tumblr now has various apps on smartphones and tablet devices so users don't have to go directly to the website to use its services.  This is all possible because Tumblr released its API for developers to create another platform to access all of Tumblr's functions.  This communication from app to domain and back to Tumblr's back end systems is from the API.  

APIs allows for the filtering of programs from one source to another, via apps, software, mobile devices, or web browsers.  The unique feature of APIs is that it is doesn't only allow product A to go through product B.  Developers can build and extend upon the API and create innovative ways to use the product.  They can choose to add additional features to the framework that the API originally sets.  This is why many APIs are unique as developers use it to add more functionality and enhancements.

Going back to Passbook, it's now easier to understand the importance of an API.  Passbook will store digitalized passes in one app.  The channel that allows for people to create Passbook passes, distribute them to users, and update them accordingly is the Passbook API. The proper languages allow for Passbook to communicate with other sources so that users can actually generate passes and have them open and be stored in Passbook.  

So having an understanding of what components are needed to use Passbook for business or personal use is the first step.  The second step is to equip yourself or your business with the right tools and resources so that you can efficiently create, distribute, and manage Passbook passes.  Passk.it is one of those companies that will provide all the aforementioned capabilities.  You can check out their website here and prepare yourself for one of Apple's greatest, game-changing mobile apps of the decade.