PayPal Launches Revamped iPhone App, Teams With Bump For Phone-Tapping Money Transfers
Jason Kincaid
Mar 15, 2010

PayPal has just launched an upgraded iPhone application that adds new features and includes a facelift that’s meant to help instill a greater sense of security. And it also brings with it big news for Bump Technologies, the startup that lets you exchange information simply by tapping smartphones together: Bump is now prominently featured in the PayPal iPhone application as a quick way to initiate transactions.  You can download the free app here.

PayPal has offered a free application for the iPhone ever since the App Store launched in mid-2008, and it has gradually been improving over time. Today’s release brings a handful of significant new features. First, it now allows you to send a money request to your contacts (it’s essentially a bill). Second, you can now withdraw money out of your PayPal account and deposit it into your bank account. And there’s the Bump integration, which allows you to exchange money simply by tapping two iPhones together and entering the amount of the transaction — finally, an easy way to collect money from those friends who always seem to be out of cash.

The PayPal app includes a few more minor new features. There’s now an integrated tip calculator and bill splitter, as well as a reminder function that alerts you when you need to send or withdraw money. And the application now integrates the ‘PayPal For Kids’ program, which allows kids and teenagers to access a PayPal sub-account that’s linked to their parent’s.

PayPal’s iPhone app is only one component of the company’s mobile strategy. Last spring it partnered with RIM for the launch of the BlackBerry App World store, and it has also integrated with eBay’s mobile application. iPhone developers can easily integrate PayPal functionality using a PayPal library. And aside from the iPhone app, it offers native PayPal applications for Android and RIM phones as well (the company plans to brings these apps up to speed with the new iPhone release over the next few months).

This is also obviously very big news for Bump, which is still a young startup (the company took part in Y Combinator and was funded by Sequoia last fall). Bump and PayPal declined to disclose the details of the partnership.

Advertisement
  • Related Topics
Advertisement
  • http://sportsblognet.com Joe M

    Where is the add on to swipe and accept credit cards?

  • NikNik86

    Downloaded. Awesome update! Bump is killer feature. Goodbye cash

  • http://librarianchat.com/forum/ librarianchat

    That’s the stuff I’m talking about. This is what we need.

  • Timb

    Oddly enough, this is pretty much exactly the app idea that I submitted to PayPal’s “Developer Challenge”.

    Chances are good I forfeited my soul by submitting the idea anyway.

  • preston Landers

    so whats the point of square?

  • mark

    Yes, this is going to avalanche. No need for anything but your phone.

    Merchants will just need bump on the register.

    Wow.

    Not good for Square.

  • http://nwosu.com Obi

    Seems like a much better alternative to Square:- Paypal can link to a Credit Card, no dongle required and just a bump to securely transfer cash.

  • http://www.brianshall.com Brian S Hall

    No wonder my kids keep bumping our iPhones together!

  • http://www.threadbox.com Vibhu Norby

    If you remember, PayPal was originally a service that let people beam money to each other through their Palm Pilots. Nice to see them return to their roots with the help of Bump!

  • http://www.brianshall.com Brian S Hall

    Well, that may be the case when/if the Paypal + Bump app is cross platform. So, I can bump my iPhone to your Blackberry Bold, for example, and exchange funds. Soon enough we’ll all have smartphones so this has got to become cross-platform.

    (Ignoring for the moment that in many cases we’ll all still want to review the transaction, sign for legal reasons, etc.)

  • Dan

    funny, this is what Paypal originally set out to do back in 98 (only with PDAs).

  • jason

    Mobile to Mobile transfers was the idea for the original PayPal, except using Palm Pilots and not iPhones. This is a natural progression for each company, although I don’t see this being widely used.

    Square is still fine, VeriFone is ever safer.

  • http://www.adogy.com John Rampton

    I am so going to love this!

  • Apollo83

    Cool ! Cash is dead.
    The video about the app is quite funny

  • http://zodah.com Sahil Gupta

    This is exactly in line with PayPal’s original mission. Peer-to-peer transfers is their home run space, but I’m waiting to see them really innovate against larger B2C payments – i.e. bill pay. PayPal oddly has stayed away from giants like CheckFree (now Fiserv), where real innovation is needed.

    Electronic bill payment and presentment is in real need of innovation, and PayPal has the consumer pull to innovate against payment. As a tangent, presentment is also in need of innovation – to learn more about we are doing at Zodah to fix this, go to http://zodah.com to sign up for an invite to our beta.

  • http://www.sriraj.org Sriraj

    Any one knows if there’s something similar from Paypal for Androiders’?
    I can’t find anything in the market place.

  • Wade

    There’s such distrust of Paypal. I don’t see how this is going to work (in the mainstream) unless they clean up their act *tremendously*.

    Paypal is like putting your money in bank where Hugo Chavez is the CEO.

  • mrzod

    congrats jake and team! Bump deserves all this!

  • irfanp

    PayPal does have a app for android. However some of these feature will be rolled out in the coming months for other platforms

    PayPal Mobile

  • http://www.streammed.com/2010/03/16/revamped-iphone-app-paypal/ Revamped iPhone app for paypal | Stream Media

    [...] http://techcrunch.com/2010/03/15/paypal-iphone-app-bump/ Tags: apple, BUMP, bump technologies, iPhone, paypal, paypal mobile « Windows Phone Marketplace for Windows Phone 7 Series unveiled, the only way to get WP7 apps [...]

  • http://www.bomblogic.com/advertise visitors

    Bump Technologies builds mobile applications and APIs that allow two smartphones to identify one another and connect by simply being bumped together.

    I can’t wait to have this installed.

  • http://apps.bw-photostore.com Sergei Shablovsky

    Hi there !

    When I try to work with PayPal at the first time, I’m going to be frustrating about how PayPal takes fees.
    I spend more and more times to try understand how this all staff working…..

    The are more then ten books like “PayPal for dummers” on Amazon, I read it and nothing changed. May be I’m not very care reader. But I only try to understand how much money are all this hidden fees: Merchant rates, currency conversion, transaction fixed fees, transaction amount fees,…. ugh!….

    In Appstore I found great apps named PayPal Transaction Fee PRO Calculator (may be too long as for me :).

    But it is extremely easy, fast and correct for my payments in USA shopping, eBay items, and some international staff.

    Just look in AppStore http://bit.ly/aoClNB. Native PayPal application are there https://www.paypal-labs.com/iphone/

  • Josh

    Great idea and execution, but in some sense its pointless.

    Can’t accept credit cards (there goes your Square arguments again)! Works only with peeps that run PayPal. That’s not everyone. Nice try though guys.

    Still…they are focusing in the wrong area. Why don’t they have a mobile web optimized landing page for people to enter in login and or information when I send them there. (as in I really will). Google and Paypal still are completely deficient in this arena. For small vendors we rely on such services, so how will mobile transactions ever take off if you can’t buy a shirt on the fly from Gap or specialty chocolate from a small business who is so savvy?

  • http://www.piqqle.com/blog Danielatpiqqle

    If you don’t park actual cash in there, then there is no problem… Every paypal user should be using credit cards anyways, or at least their debit number to pay for stuff… Problem solved

  • http://jardenberg.se/b/jardenberg-kommenterar-2010-03-16/ jardenberg kommenterar – 2010-03-16 | jardenberg unedited

    [...] PayPal Launches Revamped iPhone App, Teams With Bump For Phone-Tapping Money Transfers [...]

  • kren

    Err, I think that’s what you called, “SquareUp” App.

    One thing that I only wish for this paypal app is its security… the last thing a user would like to happen is to find someone sniffing his credit card details without being aware.

  • darrylxxx

    I’m very disappointed in this release. At the very least I expected the ability to switch between paypal accounts (I have several for business and home use). Yes, some welcome functions like request payment and transfer to bank, but to miss multiple accounts is a big FAIL IMHO.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=521285702 Oyvind Solstad

    Not in the European stores yet, which is weird as it is localized for a dozen European languages.

  • http://www.productusp.com/a-revamped-iphone-application-released-by-paypal.html A Revamped iPhone application released by PayPal

    [...] is that it is bringing big news for the Bump Technologies; bump is now prominently featured in the PayPal iPhone application which is thus a very fine way to initiate the transactions. The application is free to download [...]

  • http://www.gadgetvenue.com/paypal-iphone-app-updated-bump-tap-transfer-money-03162234/ PayPal iPhone App Updated to use Bump – Tap to Transfer Money

    [...] phones together.Other features include a tip calculator, bill splitter and a reminder function.Via: TechCrunch /**/ You can receive our articles for free in your email inbox. For more gadgets, technology, [...]

  • http://www.antoninominuto.it/wp/?p=1091 Antonino Minuto 2.0 » Archive » PayPal, scambiarsi denaro con un “bump”

    [...] funzionamento della tecnologia “Bump” è spiegata chiaramente nel filmato seguente, ove il gruppo [...]

  • http://podkive.com shahram

    This is going to be a FAIL. I see a new way of people getting mugged lol

  • http://www.cezille.info Cezille

    i don’t have an iPhone but I have an iPod Touch. Can I use this app on my iPod Touch? I feel comfortable and very safe using my iPod paying stuff via Paypal rather than computer. Computers are vulnerable to virus and keyloggers and so dangerous if you have an important account like Paypal.

  • http://technewsninja.com/2010/03/paypal-app-goes-2-0-adds-bump-integration/ Paypal app goes 2.0, adds Bump integration | Tech News Ninja

    [...] [h/t TechCrunch] [...]

  • http://ipadtabletcafe.com/518/paypal-app-goes-2-0-adds-bump-integration/ Paypal app goes 2.0, adds Bump integration | iPad Tablet Cafe

    [...] but in the meantime these are iPhone-only goodies. Enjoy! Gallery: Paypal iPhone App 2.0 [h/t TechCrunch]TUAWPaypal app goes 2.0, adds Bump integration originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog [...]

  • http://apple.newsbyme.info/?p=71999 Paypal app goes 2.0, adds Bump integration | Apple latest news

    [...] but in the meantime these are iPhone-only goodies. Enjoy! Gallery: Paypal iPhone App 2.0 [h/t TechCrunch]TUAWPaypal app goes 2.0, adds Bump integration originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog [...]

  • http://www.design-city.co.uk/index.php/2010/03/paypal-app-goes-2-0-adds-bump-integration/ Paypal app goes 2.0, adds Bump integration | Design City

    [...] but in the meantime these are iPhone-only goodies. Enjoy! Gallery: Paypal iPhone App 2.0 [h/t TechCrunch]TUAWPaypal app goes 2.0, adds Bump integration originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog [...]

  • http://apple.blogsby.com/paypal-app-goes-2-0-adds-bump-integration-2/ Paypal app goes 2.0, adds Bump integration « Apple « Apple News Fan Page

    [...] h/t TechCrunch [...]

  • http://www.newpdas.net/iphone-nano-spy-shots/ iphone nano spy shots | New Pda's

    [...] PayPal Launches Revamped iPhone App, Teams With Bump For Phone … [...]

  • http://www.lockergnome.com/it/2010/03/16/bump-now-for-paypal-payments/ IT Professionals

    [...] To Look To The Future?Mobile Phones Poised For GrowthWould you trust your mobile device to make PayPal payments to others? Here’s a bigger question: Would you trust a “bump” iPhone application [...]

  • http://blog.icultur.com/2010/03/17/paypal-app-goes-2-0-adds-bump-integration/ Paypal app goes 2.0, adds Bump integration «

    [...] [h/t TechCrunch] [...]

  • http://www.sosandroid.fr/andropress/2010/03/17/bumpez-echangez-contacts-et-fichiers-3433/ Bumpez, échangez contacts et fichiers | SOS Android

    [...] la version Android arrive). Cela ouvre les perspectives d’échanges de données. Paypal a par exemple tiré profit de la technologie pour transférer simplement de l’argent à vos [...]

  • http://netzwertig.com/2010/03/17/linkwertig-panfu-paypal-snack-culture-bruce-sterling/ Linkwertig: Panfu, PayPal, Snack Culture, Bruce Sterling » netzwertig.com

    [...] » PayPal Launches Revamped iPhone App, Teams With Bump For Phone-Tapping Money Transfers [...]

  • http://blog.banregio.com/2010/03/17/transfiere-fondos-de-paypal-al-tocar-dos-ipod-iphone/ Transfiere fondos de Paypal al tocar dos iPod / iPhone

    [...] Enlace: Techcrunch [...]

  • Ilan Ben Menachem

    good to know it

  • http://www.mobileorchard.com/this-week-in-iphone-ipad-news-march-192010/ This Week in iPhone & iPad News – March 19/2010

    [...] PayPal Launches Revamped iPhone App, Teams with Bump for Phone-Tapping Money Transfers The updated PayPal iPhone application now allows you to “bump” two iPhones together to transfer funds. [...]

  • http://hotelectronicstrends.onenewfuture.com/news/paypal-iphone-app-transfers-money-by-bumping-against-another-iphone-iphone-apps/ PayPal iPhone App Transfers Money By Bumping Against Another iPhone [IPhone Apps] | Hot Electronics Trends

    [...] It’s a free download, available now. [iTunes via TechCrunch] [...]

  • http://www.calvin-c.com/blog/mobile-payment-update/ Mobile Payment Update

    [...] This iPhone app allows you to make payments with the solid PayPal payment system. Latest version uses the gimmicky “bumping” gesture from BUMP app to send money from one iPhone user to another iPhone buddy. Have much potential in entering the physical retail space. Read on at TechCrunch: http://techcrunch.com/2010/03/15/paypal-iphone-app-bump/ [...]

  • http://www.manycodes.com/2010/03/23/iphone/send-money-by-bumping-iphones-split-check-with-contacts-with-paypals-new-iphone-app/ Send Money By Bumping iPhones; Split Check With Contacts With PayPal’s New iPhone App « ManyCodes.com – codes, scripts

    [...] TechCrunch] Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and [...]

  • http://marketingtypo.com/2010/04/08/this-week-in-iphone-ipad-news-march-192010/ This Week in iPhone & iPad News – March 19/2010 | MarketingTypo.com

    [...] PayPal Launches Revamped iPhone App, Teams with Bump for Phone-Tapping Money Transfers The updated PayPal iPhone application now allows you to “bump” two iPhones together to transfer funds. [...]

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/nusret1 yuregininsesi

    Mobile to Mobile transfers was the idea for the original PayPal, except using Palm Pilots and not iPhones. This is a natural progression for each company, although I don't see this being widely used.

  • http://www.webcamwithmicrophone.org John

    i am not going to use it. because my kids

  • http://musicwands.com Anthony

    Just got a droid and using the PayPal app – very useful although the information is a bit limited. One thing of great interest to me that I have not seen mentioned anywhere else is that when a payment comes in, the PayPal app shows me only the “net” amount – the amount AFTER Paypal has subtracted its fee – and not the gross amount, that was actually paid by the payer. Kind of unusual.

blog comments powered by Disqus
Advertisement
Got a tip? Building a startup? Tell us