Amazon adds PayPhrase to checkout options

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 29 October 2009 09:59

Business IT - Technology

Amazon has come up with an idea to make online shopping even easier by reducing the need to remember multiple user names and passwords. The new service also lets parents give their kids shopping freedom within limits.

Keeping track of user names and passwords for multiple e-commerce sites can be a pain in the posterior. Amazon reckons its new PayPhrase addition to Checkout by Amazon.

The idea is that shoppers pick their own identifying phrase, which is typed into the PayPhrase button on the product page. Once product selection is complete, entry of a PIN completes the purchase.

The user's credit card and shipping details are stored by Amazon.

PayPhrase provides the option of a pre-set monthly spending limit, which can be useful for a parent that wants to give a child the ability to charge limited transactions to their (the parent's) card.

If tighter controls are considered appropriate, the account holder can also monitor and approve (by email or SMS) all transactions.

"All websites accepting Checkout by Amazon, including DKNY, Jockey, Patagonia, Buy.com, J&R Electronics, and Car Toys, will be offering PayPhrase as a checkout option," company officials stated.

"PayPhrase solves the headache of trying to keep track of all the different usernames and passwords people use to shop on various sites across the web. With PayPhrase all you need is one phrase and one PIN to pay online," said Matt Williams, general manager, Amazon PayPhrase.

"We think customers will enjoy the simplicity that Amazon PayPhrase offers, and we hope they'll have some fun choosing their own personal phrases," he added.