2013-10-07 Bloomberg - Ripple takes on Western Union with deal to grow payments

[kiko]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-07/ripple-takes-on-western-union-with-deal-to-grow-payments.html

Ripple Labs Inc. is expanding the distribution of its digital currency and money-transfer software through an agreement with cash-transaction network ZipZap Inc., signaling the growth of alternative payment methods.
Ripple, a San Francisco-based startup, operates payments software and a digital currency that resides in a consumer’s account known as a Ripple Wallet. Under the agreement, Ripple will let consumers link those Wallets to ZipZap accounts. San Francisco-based ZipZap -- which has payment centers across the U.S. in locations such as CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS) pharmacies and hotels -- can then send a payment that someone makes through their Ripple Wallet to a recipient elsewhere who also has the software.

The media is going to have an uphill battle trying to explain the ripple network in one sentence or so. Example:

Ripple issues a virtual currency known as Ripples, of which it holds a 25 percent slice. Each Ripple Wallet has to hold at least 50 Ripples -- which people pay for using currencies from U.S. dollars to Japanese yen to Bitcoins -- to function. The company’s virtual currency and payments software are intended to make it easy for people to exchange money, loyalty points or airline miles for another currency.

New user confused much?

[TraderTimm]

Easily shortened to:

"Yet another intermediary that will fail as Bitcoin gains further adoption."

[mah87]

Easily shortened to:

"Yet another intermediary that will fail as Bitcoin gains further adoption."

"Yet the next step for bitcoin exchanges and further adoption"

[callem]

If litecoin has been jokingly referred to as the chuck-e-cheese token of cryptocurrencies, then ripple is the swiss army knife.

But how many people actually carry a swiss army knife?

[mah87]

If litecoin has been jokingly referred to as the chuck-e-cheese token of cryptocurrencies, then ripple is the swiss army knife.

But how many people actually carry a swiss army knife?

what do you mean ? ripple is a protocol

[mah87]

Ripple is a joke.

I'm sorry but you don't know what you are talking about...

[mah87]

Ripple is a joke.

I'm sorry but you don't know what you are talking about...

Based on what?
You didn't disapprove my statement either.

Maybe because ripple is not a joke ?

http://www.money2020.com/agenda-track/ripple-developer-conference
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-07/ripple-takes-on-western-union-with-deal-to-grow-payments.html

[aa]

Ripple is a joke because it's flawed and the flaws have been pointed out many times already. If you want more information, do a simple search on this forum.

[mah87]

Ripple is a joke because it's flawed and the flaws have been pointed out many times already. If you want more information, do a simple search on this forum.

All the "flaws" has been answered here and on ripple forum. Up to you to believe TradeFortress propaganda and bullshits...

[callem]

If litecoin has been jokingly referred to as the chuck-e-cheese token of cryptocurrencies, then ripple is the swiss army knife.

But how many people actually carry a swiss army knife?

what do you mean ? ripple is a protocol

The fact that the protocol tries to do so much is what makes it so difficult to explain - and may be its greatest impediment to success. At least I can get plastic trinkets and maybe a sticker-book or two with my chuck-e-cheese tokens (and possibly even litecoin). So far XRP/ripple has mostly been used to confuse reporters who go on to write even more confusing articles.

[mah87]

If litecoin has been jokingly referred to as the chuck-e-cheese token of cryptocurrencies, then ripple is the swiss army knife.

But how many people actually carry a swiss army knife?

what do you mean ? ripple is a protocol

The fact that the protocol tries to do so much is what makes it so difficult to explain - and may be its greatest impediment to success. At least I can get plastic trinkets and maybe a sticker-book or two with my chuck-e-cheese tokens (and possibly even litecoin). So far XRP/ripple has mostly been used to confuse reporters who go on to write even more confusing articles.

Maybe...

[viboracecata]

Ripple is a joke because it's flawed and the flaws have been pointed out many times already. If you want more information, do a simple search on this forum.

Most of the flaws pointed came out from our conjectures, now the source has been released, maybe we can refresh our conclusions based on the source reading.

[vindimy]

Heheh, here we go with the "Ripple is a scam" retards.. You are the SAME idiots who would've been screaming "Bitcoin is a scam" 2 years ago. Welcome to my ignore list.

[btbrae]

Ripple is flawed IMO but that doesn't mean it won't challenge dinosaur payment processors like Western Union, and it will more than likely open doors for Bitcoin. There is an air of self-interest to Ripple, but it's nothing to be afraid of.

[mah87]

Ripple is flawed IMO but that doesn't mean it won't challenge dinosaur payment processors like Western Union, and it will more than likely open doors for Bitcoin. There is an air of self-interest to Ripple, but it's nothing to be afraid of.

why flawed ?

[Snail2]

Why people still don't understand that XRP isn't a currency. It's a protocol and a medium for exchanging stuff. Like a peace of paper. You can use it for printing money, or printing airmiles vouchers, or printing whatever you want. That number in your wallet is only something like a counter for your available sheets of paper.

[Gimmelfarb]

Why people still don't understand that XRP isn't a currency. It's a protocol and a medium for exchanging stuff. Like a peace of paper. You can use it for printing money, or printing airmiles vouchers, or printing whatever you want. That number in your wallet is only something like a counter for your available sheets of paper.

i think you mean Ripple. xrp is meant to be a currency, anyway. Ripple is the protocol. xrp are not IOUs, which you seem to be implying.

[Snail2]

i think you mean Ripple. xrp is meant to be a currency, anyway. Ripple is the protocol. xrp are not IOUs, which you seem to be implying.

OK I was inaccurate. Ripple is the protocol and XRP is the medium. However I'm considering XRP as a promissory note (IOU) instead of currency.

[lonesoul]

If litecoin has been jokingly referred to as the chuck-e-cheese token of cryptocurrencies, then ripple is the swiss army knife.

But how many people actually carry a swiss army knife?

Got a swiss army knife in my pocket right now - Its invaluable to my on a day to day basis. Wether its picking my teeth or stripping down a computer or chopping up carrots for the puppy ;-) i always have it.

If any coin can come close to being a swiss army knife ill buy it up real fast lol (well as much as my little amount of funds could buy!)

[AmazonStuff]

Ripple is not a swiss army knife in the crypto-currency world, Ripple is the mother and father of all swiss army knifes in the crypto-currency world