Amazon Hopes To Simplify Web Shopping _ With Words

RACHEL METZ

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — You're probably used to typing your name, address and credit card number when you buy things online. Amazon.com is guessing you don't enjoy it, though, and wants to simplify the process by letting you purchase items with a short phrase such as "Shopping Fanatic" and an identification number.

The online retailer planned to unveil the system, known as Amazon PayPhrase, on Thursday.

Here's how it works. If you store a credit card number and shipping address with Amazon, you can elect to have that information represented by a short phrase and ID number. Then you can enter that phrase and PIN instead of giving a credit card and address to buy things on Amazon and other Web sites that accept this PayPhrase system.

Amazon says that approach is simpler than entering card numbers — and more flexible, because consumers can set up multiple phrases and ID numbers tied to the same credit card. That could enable parents, for example, to give their children passphrases that have monthly allowances.

The transactions are processed by Amazon, which earns a commission each time someone uses PayPhrase on a third-party Web site.