數字錢包 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 .
數字錢包是一種能使用戶在Web網上支付貨款的軟體。它保存信用卡號碼和其它個人信息，如送貨地址。數據一旦被輸入，就自動轉移到商家網站的訂貨域。
使用數字錢包時，當消費者購買物品時，不需要填寫每個站點上的訂單，因為信息已經存儲了，並自動更新和進入到廠商站點的訂貨域。消費者使用數字錢包時也能得到好處，因為他們的信息被加密了，即由私人軟體代碼加以保護。商家也避免了受騙而得到保護，也從中獲益。
對消費者來說，數字錢包是免費的，可以相當容易得到。例如，當消費者在建立了處理伺服器端數字錢包的商家網站上購買東西時，他把其名字、付款額和送貨信息輸入到商家自己的表格中。在購買結束時，他被要求為他選擇的錢包籤上用戶名和今後購買時的口令。用戶也能從錢包供應商的站點上得到錢包。
雖然錢包對消費者是免費的，但(錢包)供應商對商家使用錢包要收費。
數字錢包分兩大類型：客戶端和伺服器端(數字錢包)。在這些分類中是那些只在某些商家網站上工作的錢包和那些商家不可知的錢包。
基於客戶的數字錢包是兩種錢包中較陳舊的一種，據分析人士稱，這類錢包已開始沒人理睬了，因為它們要求用戶下載和安裝軟體。用戶下載錢包的應用程式和輸入付款額和郵寄信息。在這個意義上，信息是安全的，並在用戶的硬碟上進行了加密。用戶在本地獲得對其信用卡和個人信息的控制。
使用基於伺服器的錢包時，用戶填寫其個人信息，並自動下載點心文件(點心文件是一個包括了有關用戶信息的文本文件)。在這種情況下，消費者的信息駐留在金融機構或者數字錢包供應商的伺服器上，而不是用戶的PC機上。
伺服器端錢包提供了針對商家欺騙的安全措施，因為它們使用證書，來驗明各方的身份。當一方進行交易時，它向涉及的另一方提交證書。證書附著在電子報文上，用於驗明另一方身份，並向接收方提供對回答進行編碼的手段。
另外，信用卡持有人的敏感信息一般保存在金融機構內，由於金融環境通常提供最高等級的安全性，因而這又是一種額外的安全措施。
但是即使錢包提供了方便的網上購物，尚未被廣泛採用。
標準化是數字錢包能否成功的關鍵。