>>Microsoft needs the Banks, because Microsoft needs a good customer interface (MS Money is losing market share). E-bill needs to be tied to a checking account, either directly through the bank, or the use of Quicken, etc. Consumers will not be inclined to go to the MSFDC web site just to pay bills without a connection to their checkbook. IMHO
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What I meant to say was that, from a purely operational, technical standpoint, neither company HAS to solicit the bank's participation if the account holder wants either company to debit the account and forward funds to a third party.
Additionally, the banks do not NEED to be consulted for a biller to send bills to the customer, and for the customer to authorize a debit to pay those bills. The bank does not need advance knowledge of either transaction for it to actually go through.
In this respect, MSFDC and CKFR are exactly alike. What makes them different is how each company tries to include the bank in the transaction. MS wants to make them buy NT driven software. CKFR wants to show them a service that is platform independant.
I think CKFR has it right, because there is no ulterior motive there to sell the banks anything other than a useful tool for customer retention and generating fees. Period. CKFR to me seems the honest broker. |
