Check It Out: Amazon PayPhrase Makes It Easier To Buy Online

The new PayPhrase system offered by the retailer's Amazon Payments subsidiary provides shoppers with a shortcut for making online purchases. Amazon customers can quickly preview an order and go through check out by entering a unique phrase they have chosen and a four-digit PIN.

The system maintains customer preference information such as credit card information and shipping addresses. The process eliminates such steps as signing in, "proceed to checkout" and entering credit card and shipping information, according to Amazon.com.

The chosen phrase has to have at least two words and be between four and 100 characters in length. Some of the sample phrases Amazon cited in its announcement include "Home Sweet Home," "Relentless Dentist" and "Fiction Vixen." The company disclosed that Amazon PayPhrase General Manager Matt Williams chose the phrase "Good To Go," although it's a good guess he may be changing that now.

Consumers also can use PayPhrase on other retail sites that use the Checkout by Amazon system, including Buy.com, Car Toys, DKNY, J&R Electronics, Jockey and Patagonia, according to Amazon.com. Customers don't need to register or create a new account with those participating retailers in order to make a purchase. PayPhrase is currently available only in the U.S.