PayPal Australia sees growth in mobility

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:21

IT Industry - Development

PayPal's Australian business has grown to $A2 billion in five years, but the message from the local managing director is that 'you ain't seen nothin' yet.'

PayPal is "very happy with the last five years" in Australia, local MD Frerk-Malte Feller told iTWire on the company's fifth anniversary in Australia.

With transactions totalling almost $US2 billion worldwide in 2009, and more than 3 million active Australian users and 30,000 Australian businesses accepting PayPal, the company seems to be well placed - especially as that list of businesses includes significant names such as JB Hi-Fi, Rebel Sport, Borders, Hoyts, Flight Centre, Webjet, Air Asia X, Optus, and Telstra.

North Sydney residents can even pay their council rates via PayPay, Feller said.

Approximately half of PayPal's Australian transactions related to eBay purchases, but the non-eBay segment is growing faster, driven by the growing range of merchants.

"Travel sites have very much benefited from PayPal," said Feller, for example by making it easier for people to book from overseas.

PayPal is Australia's preferred mechanism for online payments - see page 2.