An EU directive requiring commercial transactions to be guaranteed by a bank is leading to an unfortunate inerpretation by the Finnish authorities. Because buying goods or services with your mobile phone are done as a transaction only between the merchant and the customer, with the mobile operator acting as the broker, there is no bank guarantee in the process. Mobile payments are popular for buying tickets for events and public transportation, ordering pizzas or buying soda from a vending machine.

Merchants and operators claim that assuming that the mobile operator will go banckrupt between the moment of purchase and the moment of merchant receiving their payment is minimum. I tend to agree. Other EU countries are not implementing the directive in such strict manner. What's the matter with you, Finland?

A way to go around the issue is to set up electronic commerce services outside of the country. Internet knows no borders. That will lead the country losing tax income from those merchants. Really, what IS the matter with you, Finland?

PS. Do they call it mCommerce any longer? I used that term on the heading first, but it looked too dated so changed to Mobile payment. What's the web 3.0 compatible word for this nowadays ;)

Source: Ilta-Sanomat April 23, 2009