Right phase for phrase
If you're the forgetful type, you'll be happy to hear Amazon has just come out with a "PayPhrase" shortcut for punters, which it says will make web purchases a lot easier.
In the run up to the Christmas rush, Amazon is allowing users to set up their own memorable phrase and four digit PIN, which will hook up to their Amazon accounts and includes their preferred shipping address and credit card information.
Users enter their PayPhrase and PIN, see an order confirmation and can then check out in seconds with no need to sign in or enter credit card information on multiple sites.
The payphrases can be as simple as "Shopoholic" or as long as "Dr Strange Love or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love to shop on Amazon."
Apart from Amazon.com, the user generated PayPhrase will also work on other participating websites, like DKNY.com, Jockey.com, Buy.com, J&R Electronics and Car Toys.
"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," said Matt Williams, general manager of PayPhrase, whose own phrase happens to be "good to go".
If your PayPhrase happens to be along the lines of "worried parent", Amazon is also promising the system will allow oldies to keep better track of their sprogs' spending habits, with the ability to set up monthly spending limits and being able to monitor or approve purchases.
Neurotic parents can even preview every order placed, getting alerted and given a chance to deny any purchase by e-mail or SMS when their kids decide to splash out $500 on that latest ‘must-have'.
It's not hard to see why Amazon has decided to release the service just before the festive season kicks off, either. According to a study by Shop.org, 45.8 per cent of online retailers expect holiday sales to be up at least 15 per cent over last year.
