PayPal Simplifies Development Tools to Fuel Its Mobile-Pay Push

PayPal’s most recent updates to its tools for programmers reflect a desire to simplify the process of integrating with mobile apps and other new channels.

PayPal announced updates this week to its development tools, which it initially launched in 2009 under the revived X.com brand. The new tools, which PayPal announced at the SXSW Interactive Festival, have a focus on mobile devices and on simplicity.

The tools allow developers on Apple’s iOS devices to use features such as the technology PayPal obtained when it purchased Card.io last year. This technology, which PayPal uses in its PayPal Here mobile card acceptance app, allows smartphones to read card details by scanning a plastic card with the device’s camera.

“Developers should have the freedom to focus on innovating for their customers, not spending time worrying about handling the complex task of payments,” says James Barrese, PayPal’s chief technology officer, on PayPal’s blog.

In a video interview with Rackspace’s Robert Scoble during the SXSW show, Barrese explained the need to expand payments into new channels.

“More and more of what we’re seeing is it’s a multi-channel world,” he said. “Consumers are leading the change, they’re adopting technology … we’re extending our reach through all of these different channels and really we’re following what the consumers want.”

PayPal’s global reach distinguishes the eBay unit from other companies trying to woo mobile developers, he said.

“We’ve integrated with financial network after financial network, country after country,” he said in the video interview.