04 June 2014 / Benzinga – This past week has been action-packed for those following bitcoin.
But instead of analysts and investors prognosticating about bitcoin’s potential, there has been action by Fortune 500 companies.
And actions do indeed speak louder than words. The past seven days have brought bitcoin actions from Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Dish (NASDAQ: DISH) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN).
Apple
While the company’s developer
conference, WWDC, was in progress, others at Apple were busy updating their policies to permit iOS apps that transmit virtual currencies. It is expected this change is to allow bitcoin wallets on iPhones.
Prior to that announcement, Apple had been rejecting bitcoin wallets from companies like Blockchain.info, Coinbase and Gliph.
Related Article: Signs A Bitcoin Tidal Wave Is Forming To Disrupt Business
Apple’s ban was a barrier to adoption for bitcoin. Bitcoin is a great technology that can send money between two people anywhere in the world instantly, but iPhones couldn’t be used to pay with bitcoins. That was a non-starter for many; it was especially damaging since many company executives use iPhones.
Apple’s ban also enraged bitcoin fans, who claimed the move was antithetical to Apple’s image of being innovative and anti-establishment. There was even a campaign for bitcoiners to smash working iPhones and to switch to Android.
It appears Apple is reversing its stance before this migration becomes a mass exodus. This means iPhone users will expand the bitcoin economy. Before Blockchain.info’s app was banned, it had already been downloaded 120,000 times. This also might mean that Apple sees a bright future for digital currencies.
Dish Network
Dish announced it will accept bitcoin payments in the third quarter of this year. Following Overstock’s successful acceptance in January, Dish is now the largest company to accept bitcoin….. Read more
