Mobile wallet shares purchase details with Facebook friends

A new mobile application combines social networking tools and mobile commerce, allowing Facebook users to share their purchases on the web.

The Blaze Mobile Wallet 2.0, released by Blaze Mobile, is available for a free download through Apple's App Store, enabling iPhone and iPad users to keep their friends on Facebook up-to-date with their latest purchases. The "checkout" feature on the app links to users' payment cards and provides a Facebook icon within the app, which automatically posts details of the purchase during the point of sale, such as the business' specific location and date of the purchase. The application is an attempt to align a mobile commerce solution with the marketing benefits of social media.

"This Facebook feature is word-of-mouth marketing," said Michelle Fisher, CEO at Blaze Mobile, according to KansasCity.com. "When a consumer shares their latest purchase with friends, it gives them a voice not available through traditional product review channels, and could compel others to purchase that item as well. Movie and concert tickets, books and food are just a few examples of purchases your friends would consider making after seeing that you've bought them."

Social networking and mobile devices will continue to drive mobile commerce together, as analysts have predicted both solutions to see monumental growth among both consumers and businesses through 2015.