Digital Wallets
A digital wallet is software that enables users to pay for goods on the Web. It holds credit-card numbers and other personal information such as a shipping address. Once entered, the data automatically populates order fields at merchant sites.
When using a digital wallet, consumers don't need to fill out order forms on each site when they purchase an item because the information has already been stored and is automatically updated and entered into the order fields across merchant sites. Consumers also benefit when using digital wallets because their information is encrypted or protected by a private software code. And merchants benefit by receiving protection against fraud.
Digital wallets are available to consumers free of charge, and they're fairly easy to obtain. For example, when a consumer makes a purchase at a merchant site that's set up to handle server-side digital wallets, he types his name and payment and shipping information into the merchant's own form. At the end of the purchase, one consumer is asked to sign up for a wallet of his choice by entering a user name and password for future purchases. Users can also acquire wallets at a wallet vendor's site.
Although a wallet is free for consumers, vendors charge merchants for wallets.
Digital wallets come in two main types: client-side and server- side. Within those divisions are wallets that work only on specific merchant sites and those that are merchant agnostic.
Client-based digital wallets, the older of the two types, are falling by the wayside, according to analysts, because they require users to download and install software. A user downloads the wallet application and inputs payment and mailing information. At that point, the information is secured and encrypted on the user's hard drive. The user retains control of his credit card and personal information locally.
With a server-based wallet, a user fills out his personal information, and a cookie is automatically downloaded. （A cookie is a text file that contains information about the user.）In this scenario, the consumer information resides on the server of a financial institution or a digital wallet vendor rather than on the user's PC.
Server-side wallets provide assurance against merchant fraud because they use certificates to verify the identity of all parties. When a party makes a transaction, it presents its certificate to the other parties involved. A certificate is an attachment to an electronic message used to verify the identity of the party and to provide the receiver with the means to encode a reply.
Furthermore, the cardholder's sensitive data is typically housed at a financial institution, so there's an extra sense of security because financial environments generally provide the highest degree of security.
But even though wallets provide easy shopping online, adoption hasn't been widespread.
Standards are pivotal to the success of digital wallets.
数字钱包是一种能使用户在Web网上支付货款的软件。它保存信用卡号码和其它个人信息，如送货地址。数据一旦被输入，就自动转移到商家网站的订货域。
使用数字钱包时，当消费者购买物品时，不需要填写每个站点上的订单，因为信息已经存储了，并自动更新和进入到厂商站点的订货域。消费者使用数字钱包时也能得到好处，因为他们的信息被加密了，即由私人软件代码加以保护。商家也避免了受骗而得到保护，也从中获益。
对消费者来说，数字钱包是免费的，可以相当容易得到。例如，当消费者在建立了处理服务器端数字钱包的商家网站上购买东西时，他把其名字、付款额和送货信息输入到商家自己的表格中。在购买结束时，他被要求为他选择的钱包签上用户名和今后购买时的口令。用户也能从钱包供应商的站点上得到钱包。
虽然钱包对消费者是免费的，但（钱包）供应商对商家使用钱包要收费。
数字钱包分两大类型：客户端和服务器端（数字钱包）。在这些分类中是那些只在某些商家网站上工作的钱包和那些商家不可知的钱包。
基于客户的数字钱包是两种钱包中较陈旧的一种，据分析人士称，这类钱包已开始没人理睬了，因为它们要求用户下载和安装软件。用户下载钱包的应用程序和输入付款额和邮寄信息。在这个意义上，信息是安全的，并在用户的硬盘上进行了加密。用户在本地获得对其信用卡和个人信息的控制。
使用基于服务器的钱包时，用户填写其个人信息，并自动下载点心文件（点心文件是一个包括了有关用户信息的文本文件）。在这种情况下，消费者的信息驻留在金融机构或者数字钱包供应商的服务器上，而不是用户的PC机上。
服务器端钱包提供了针对商家欺骗的安全措施，因为它们使用证书，来验明各方的身份。当一方进行交易时，它向涉及的另一方提交证书。证书附着在电子报文上，用于验明另一方身份，并向接收方提供对回答进行编码的手段。
另外，信用卡持有人的敏感信息一般保存在金融机构内，由于金融环境通常提供最高等级的安全性，因而这又是一种额外的安全措施。
但是即使钱包提供了方便的网上购物，尚未被广泛采用。
标准化是数字钱包能否成功的关键。 |
