I'm developing a multi-cryptocurrency, multi-wallet, multi-platform application (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=405374.0) and thought it might be interesting to develop this idea as well:

                                          Payment Address Look Up Service

The idea is to have a service for people to register their payment address, and be connected via social networks (Facebook, Google+, Twitter, etc.) The information will be stored in a database and available via an API.

Clients (such as a wallet apps) can look up the database and find the person who registered and publicized their payment address. This could allow situations when providing an address via email/message or displaying a QR code is not convenient or fast. For example:

- When friends are talking on the phone. The payor can simply look up look up (via an app) on social networks and retrieve the payment address.
- When merchants are providing support on the phone. Staff can direct customer to search the service for the official payment address.
- Any other situation when the recipient is lazy to tell the other party his/her address or just don't have it offhand, and can simply say "oh, you can find my payment address on this service by searching my name or through our social network connection..."

Further, if I were to engage into developing this service, it would not only be for Bitcoin, but for alternative coins as well.

I think payment address for individuals and businesses should have a central look up service. What do you think? Do you think such a service would be useful?

I've talked to some merchants who are not interested in accepting Bitcoin because the exchange rate fluctuates and it is simply too volatile. I've explained that services provided by Bitpay and Coinbase in the US protects against any fluctuation, which means the price you sell is the price you'll get in your bank account. My point here is many people (ie. merchants) are still shying away from accepting Bitcoin because they don't understand this.

I now realize that in order for Bitcoin to gain more adoption worldwide, there needs to be Bitcoin payment processors for every country. If you think about it, every country's domestic banking system is different, and only a local business would understand the domestic needs and provide tailored services.

I've written an article on my blog explaining how to become a Bitcoin Payment Processor, specifically to insulate the risks of exchange rate fluctuation for both the merchant (client) and the exchanger (the business).

http://blog.ikevin.me/bitcoin-business-opportunity-how-to-become-a-payment-processor/

If your country does not yet have a Bitcoin payment processor, or Bitpay.com has not entered your market yet, I think it is a great opportunity to make the first move.

Let me know your thoughts... for discussion.

Hi, I have actually just posted a thread earlier about what you're looking for. I tried to understand your post message and found that there are many similarities. Could you please take a look at my thread and let me know what you think?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=405374.0

https://bitbucket.org/ikevin8me/multiwallets/wiki/Home

And, honestly, I need some funds to develop this project.

Kevin.

Thank you so much for your support! It's only been less than half and hour and I'm so glad to see your positve message!

Hi, we'd like to announce that I'm developing a multi-cryptocurrency, multi-wallet application based on JavaFX. It will run on OS X, Windows, Linux and UNIX.

The initial goal is to implement for Bitcoin and Litecoin as Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) clients. Additional cryptocurrencies (ie. altcoins) will be considered for implementation either as full or SPV clients, though the latter is generally preferred. The goal is to have a unified application that serves as a platform to quickly incorporate new altcoins as they are introduced to the market.

As new altcoins are introduced...
The first strategy is to develop an SPV implementation in Java. Either the creator/developers of the new altcoin can do this, or we will implement it (depending on demand and funding). If SPV implementation is not possible, we can compile the source code in C and integrate it by executing system process from Java code.  The goal is to have a platform to quickly incorporate new altcoins for as many operating systems as possible (ie. being on JavaFX works across many computing platforms).

The description of the project is available here:
https://bitbucket.org/ikevin8me/multiwallets/wiki/Home

(Screenshots of the application mockup are also on the Wiki page.)

Please give us your support by following us on Twitter and liking our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/multiwallets
https://twitter.com/multiwallets

Please send your donations to support this project to:
Bitcoin (BTC): 1J1vg3CZdWtpMjgV3aGLAdD2z9VLwycxtb
Litecoin (LTC): LRJ5RzUKvJHESyU1RnEThJjUxSCNMk8JWR

My personal blog:
http://blog.ikevin.me

Please give us your comments and any feature requests on this thread.

Hi,

I just signed up for new membership and the rules say that I have to make a post with several sentenses.

Well, I've just written an article on How to Identify Mining Hardware Scams on my blog:
http://blog.ikevin.me/how-to-identify-a-mining-hardware-scam/

Here's an excerpt from the article:

Scams are Lucrative Business, Too

However, things go bad as scammers see opportunities to cash-in. They understand that it is a 100% pre-order/pre-pay market and there is a long wait time before delivery. A victim would not realized he/she is scammed until many months have passed when goods never arrive, only to find out and accept they never will.

I've posted an article on How to Identify a Bitcoin Mining Hardware Scam:
http://blog.ikevin.me/how-to-identify-a-mining-hardware-scam/