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Today, Amazon launched a new service which brings the company's payment processing tools to mobile devices. Called the "Amazon Mobile Payments Service," the technology includes a set of APIs (application programming interfaces) for mobile developers which will allow them to provide payment options to their customers within mobile websites and mobile applications. The new service also allows for integration of Amazon's "1-Click" checkout, the feature that lets customers make purchases using their credit card information stored within their Amazon.com accounts.

Starbucks just launched two iPhone apps. One app, myStarbucks, allows users to find stores, build drinks, and browse the coffee chain's menu and find nutritional information. While this is interesting, the second app is far more exciting. Starbucks Card Mobile gives users a virtual Starbucks Card and in 16 select stores in Silicon Valley and Seattle, users will be able to use this app to pay for their drinks. The app will display a barcode that the baristas at these stores will be able to scan.

This is part 2 of a two-part article on the mobile e-commerce market in relation to other mobile trends.

In part 1 of this article, we looked at m-commerce's struggles in relation to other mobile markets like mobile ads and video while also discussing some of the issues mobile retailers face today. But another aspect to m-commerce's growth (or lack thereof) is the issue of mobile payment providers. Only recently have we begun to see some changes in this space - at least in developed markets like the U.S. With the recent launch of several new mobile payment services, consumers should soon become more comfortable and open to the idea of using their phones to make purchases.