Methods and apparatus for brokering a transaction

A method of brokering a transaction between a first party and a second party with a trusted transaction server (TTS), the method comprising:

• generating a transaction code for a transaction, the transaction code containing information identifying the first party and the transaction;
• receiving at the TTS a request for a brokered transaction from the second party including the transaction code, the request being sent over a second communication channel from a second application running on a computing device,
• matching the first party with first party details stored at the TTS using the information identifying the first party contained in the transaction code, the details including details of communications with the first party,
• authenticating the first party and establishing a first communications channel between the TTS and the first party based on the details,
• sending the transaction code from the TTS to the first party over the first communication channel and receiving at the TTS from the first party at least some transaction details over the first communications channel;
• storing the transaction code received from the second party with at least some details of the transaction received from the first party at the TTS;
• sending a request for authorization for the brokering of the transaction from the TTS to the second party including at least some of the details of the transaction for display to the second party,
• the TTS authenticating the identity of the second party by way of a secret code received from the second application and receiving authorization by the second party for brokering the transaction,
• with the TTS, brokering the transaction with the first party and/or a third party including sending information necessary for authorization of the transaction to the first party and/or third party.