Twitter is dipping its toes into online shopping and m-commerce with a small-scale US trial of a Buy button that retailers can embed into tweets.

“This is an early step in our building functionality into Twitter to make shopping from mobile devices convenient and easy, hopefully even fun,” posted Tarun Jain, Twitter’s group product manager, in a blog.

After tapping the Buy button, users get additional product details and can then enter shipping and payment information, which is directed to the merchant. Payment details can be saved to shorten future payment times.

Jain is keen to emphasise that Twitter is a safe place to do business.

“We built this test experience with your trust and security at the forefront,” he writes. “Your payment and shipping information is encrypted and safely stored after your first transaction, so you can easily buy on Twitter in the future without having to re-enter all of your information. Of course, you can always remove this information from your account. Your credit card is processed securely and won’t be shared with the seller without your permission.”

Twitter is trying out the Buy button with a range of artists (mainly for music downloads), plus retail brands and non-profit organisations. Musicians Ryan Adams and Eminem are among those trying out the new functionality, as are retailers Burberry and The Home Depot.

Twitter says more artists and brands will be signing-up “soon”.