Additionally, Google can leverage BOKU’s existing relationships with mobile carriers for the growth of the Android Market, an app store. Enabling users to make such purchases through their phones is surely on the company’s to-do list.įor Google, on the other hand, a possible BOKU acquisition would enable the search giant to bolster its Checkout service and make it a more appealing alternative to PayPal. We don’t know if history will repeat itself with BOKU, but we do know that Apple is very interested in mobile payments and that it has already registered several near field communication patents for the next iteration of the iPhone, which will enable users to make payments using credit or debit card information that is pre-stored on the phone.Īpple is already processing payments through iTunes, its popular online digital media store, which boasts more than 160 million users with active credit card accounts.

Apple ended up consoling itself by purchasing a smaller ad company called Quattro Wireless for $275 million. Late last year Google acquired mobile advertising company AdMob for $750 million, just days after Apple let its $600 million bid for the company expire. This is not the first time Apple squares off with Google over a start-up. It is unclear what the two technology giants are prepared to pay for BOKU, but according to Wauters, the start-up could end up costing Apple anywhere between $250-450 million, provided Steve Jobs and company manage to beat out their rival. The purchase amount is then added to the user’s monthly phone bill. BOKU already can be used for in-app purchases for Android apps.īOKU enables users to make payments online by entering their cell phone numbers at checkout. Neither one would comment on the rumors.įurthermore, BOKU has also engaged in high-level meetings with Google, namely with Director of Engineering Michael Morrissey, who oversees developments for Google Mobile Services for Android (which includes the Android Market app store). Apple and Google are both in talks with BOKU, interested as much in acquiring the mobile payments start-up, as they are in keeping it out of the rival’s reach, TechCrunch’s Robin Wauters reports.īOKU President and CEO Mark Britto and co-founder Ron Hirson have held multiple meetings with executives at the helm of Apple’s iPhone business in the course of the past 3 weeks.

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