The success of E-commerce and continued exponential growth of business-to-consumer, business-to-business, and even consumer-to-consumer digital commerce will depend on the internet’s ability to provide secure and simple exchange of money. A ‘convenience e-commerce’ technology patented as an authentication protocol by Cha! Technologies Services may prove to be a niche player and core technology in the digital marketplace. Their product called 1ClickCharge http://www.1ClickCharge .com/html/index.html

is a technology that allows for single-click internet payments and provides a system for merchants to verify anonymous parties on the Internet for secure exchanges. Moreover, it allows content providers to get into the ecommerce game and begin to realize revenues on a pay-per-view and small transaction basis.

The 1ClickCharge technology for micropayments has set its initial focus on digital content with price points below $20. These can include digital collectibles, MP3files, software applets, video applets, subscriptions and research. It will allow merchants to price content for sale for very small amounts, and even pay consumers through their 1Click Charge account with consumer reward and incentive programs. The market clearly exists for instant, cash-like payments on the Internet and this technology will fill that space.

For the consumer, this authentication protocol will enable small content purchases with credit cards without the need to re-enter personal information and credit details for every transaction – available only on 1ClickCharge enabled sites. It essentially serves as an infomediary storing the information on behalf of the user. In addition, it provides real-time accounting of web purchases giving the consumer a dynamically updated balance sheet for their account. Also, personal information is kept private from merchants that users visit as information is stored on the Cha! server and users can opt out of revealing their information when they sign up for the service. The technology therefore verifies and secures the information in addition to completing the commerce transaction.

For the merchant, the technology is equally beneficial. It aggregates small purchases by the consumer and therefore does not require merchant-side hardware or software. Content which would have previously been difficult to attach a price tag to, can now be revenue-generating material and even inspire impulse purchases on the part of consumers. Visitors become buyers and content assets become revenue. It offers an easy way for merchants to sell premium content on a pay-per-view basis. In addition to the fact that merchants need not ramp up their technology or IT staff to fulfill these transactions or install back-end commerce applications, the merchants are able to avoid the costs associated with credit card fees on such small purchase transactions.