Mobile Banking Evolution 2

Rich Client is designed to provide a more secure solution which SMS Banking can't provide. It looks quite promising as this application is able to a better user experience by having a meaningful user interface and screen flow that is easy to understand.

Rich client or thick client or Midlet is called because it is basically a program that is installed in your mobile. It can be called a Midlet if this is a program that is developed for java environment and use in Java Enable Phone with MIDP (Mobile Information Device Provile), however rich client is a more universal terminology which basically now iPhone, Android phone comes with a different standard as well.

Always there is a price if you want to be more secured, in this case Customers have to install the rich client in its handset. This is a new challenge to the bank as application installation in mobile is not as easy as it looks. Different mobile will install the application in different directory, and it looks there is no definite guideline. While SMS is a straight forward services which will be available once you activate the number, rich clients need data plan in your number. Customers must be aware of this data plan in order for them to access the services through GPRS connection.

This creates various support issues either through the call centre and/or customer services at branch. Bank must assures that support for this cases. In recent years, application installation already can be given through OTA (Over the Air) mechanism and data plan installation is activated immediately during SIM card activation. These improvement will increase customer acceptance to use this Rich Client model for Mobile Banking.

Later we will discuss about the convergence of ebanking and mobile banking.