MAM
Visa Asia Pacific reports exponential growth in international online spending
MUMBAI: Online spending by Visa cardholders’ at e-commerce merchants outside their home countries for the three months ended September exceeded $377 million, representing 71 per cent growth over the same period in 2004.
Visa Asia Pacific said that the number of international online Visa card transactions also increased from 1.9 million in the third quarter of 2004 to more than 3.6 million for the same period in 2005, a 94 per cent year-on-year gain.
Visa cardholders from the US, UK, Japan, New Zealand and Australia were the top international online spenders. These markets contributed 58 per cent to the total Visa card international online spending in Asia Pacific, or approximately $220 million.
Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and the Philippines all saw growth of over 100 per cent when compared with the same quarter in 2004.
When shopping at online merchants outside their home countries, Visa cardholders spent most on:
Transport – about $109 million, an increase of 79 per cent year on year.
Retail and trade – at about $103 million, a 90 per cent increase.
Professional and commercial services – at about $63 million, an increase of 18 per cent.
Education – at about $26 million, up 50 per cent
And, sports and leisure -at about $24 million, an increase of 83 per cent.
Visa Asia Pacific executive vice president and general manager product group Philip Yen said, “The rise in online shopping throughout Asia Pacific is part of a wider global trend that has seen online sales increase dramatically over the past few years. These figures demonstrate that the online environment makes it extremely easy for consumers to purchase goods and services while traveling or to shop overseas without leaving their homes.”
“Consumers and merchants are both contributing to this growth. For the consumers, the convenience and security that online shopping provides combined with their increasingly pressing need to manage time efficiently are the driving factors. For merchants, their recognition of the ease and speed that the online channel brings to their businesses contributes strongly to the rise in the number of online shops. Visa expects to see these figures continue to grow well into 2006 and beyond,” added Yen.
With internet shopping increasing in popularity, it is more important than ever for consumers to protect themselves against online card fraud. As part of an initiative to combat fraud, Visa is urging online shoppers to protect themselves by signing up for ‘Verified by Visa’.
‘Verified by Visa’ is an easy-to-use password protected service that verifies a cardholder’s identity during an online transaction. It helps to provide consumers and retailers with the same level of confidence as enjoyed in a face-to-face transaction. A free service to the cardholder, ‘Verified by Visa’ provides proof that a genuine cardholder and a genuine Visa retailer are taking part in the transaction.
To protect themselves further, Visa provides some online shopping tips for cardholders:
Use a secure web browser – look for an ‘s’ after the ‘http’ in the web page address or URL.
Keep your passwords secret as you would your PIN for ATM transactions.
Protect your card details – provide details only when making purchases.
Never send payment information via email. Most reputable merchant sites use encryption technologies that protect private data.
Keep a record of the transaction.
Review your monthly account statement thoroughly. Check all transactions, even the small ones, because criminals ‘test’ stolen accounts by buying inexpensive items first.
Promptly notify your financial institution of any suspicious transaction or email.
Compare products and prices between shops for the best price and quality.
Check delivery and return policies.
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
