Malauzai Software to Offer Apple Watch App

When the Apple Watch debuts in April, Malauzai Software Austin, Tex., will be one of the companies offering an app on the device, Robb Gaynor, chief product officer, tells Mobile Marketing & Technology.

Malauzai provides mobile solutions for financial institutions, with about 240 current bank and credit union customers.

Though the watch may not garner as much interest as some proponents think, Gaynor admits, financial institutions that are among the first to offer mobile banking on the device will have a certain cache as first adopters. Additionally, the watch offers a little easier use than the smartphone because there is no need to pull it out of a pocket, it is readily available.

“A wearable device like the Apple Watch only amplifies what a true mobile only experience should deliver: Glanceable data that is relevant and important to the user, nothing more, and arguably even more ubiquitous than the a mobile phone or tablet,” writes Malauzai chief technology officer Danny Piangrelli in a recent company blog.

Gaynor adds that Apple Pay has generated strong interest among financial institution customers, though he thinks it will be one of multiple mobile wallets that consumers will use. He adds that the best way for financial institutions to offer Apple Pay and other mobile wallets is to do so through their mobile banking apps, which enables them to control the customer relationship. If, Apple signs up the customer independently of the mobile banking app, then Apple controls the customer relationship.

However, Gaynor also points out that Apple Pay, while growing, still has challenges from other mobile wallets as well as from merchants who don’t have the capability of accepting NFC payments. That is expected to change as merchants upgrade terminals to be EMV-capable. Though the upgraded terminals will be able to accept NFC payments, some merchants may elect to keep this feature off to avoid the associated processing fees.