Stuff I Learned on the Train

WIRED used to be one of my favorite magazines. I loved the design elements, the stories and the overall attitude. I stopped reading it as most of my learning is online these days. However, facing travel a couple weeks ago I picked up the March 2010 WIRED issue. I thought I would share some of the interesting Internet services they reviewed that make transactions a little easier.

Kickstarter

This is a crowdsourced fundraising service. This site gives you the opportunity to post your pitch and let the fundraising begin.

Twitpay

This service links your Twitter account to your paypal account and you can tweet your payments and money transfers.

Square

This is a company started by Twitter co-creater Jack Dorsey that lets anyone accept credit card payments through a smart phone or laptop by hooking up to a free sugar cubed size device.

Zong

This service helps when you buy online, so you don’t have to keep entering your credit card information. Enter your phone number and the charge shows up on your bill. Not sure how they protect you against just anyone using your phone number, which is typically public information.

Getgiving

This mobile app enables charities to receive small donations without credit card transaction fees.