Software provider Intelligent Environments has launched an emoji-only passcode system that lets consumers log into their bank’s mobile app using four emoji characters instead of traditional PINs... More
The UAE Banks Federation, a standards body representing 50 Emirates banks, has cleared its mobile wallet project for launch and is now awaiting final approval from the nation’s central bank following a pre-implementation phase completed in December... More
US bank-led digital payments network clearXchange’s real-time payments system is now available to all member financial institutions, allowing real-time transfers to take place within the same bank or bank to bank... More
MasterCard is to extend its tokenization services to merchants with in-app, ecommerce and recurring billing card-on-file programs as well as to private label credit cards... More
Secure NFC specialist Sequent Software has closed a funding round for an undisclosed sum that will be used to support its expansion into global markets... More
PARTNER NEWS: The prevalence of EMV in the UK, lower interchange fees and the existing contactless infrastructure will lead to faster adoption of Apple Pay in the UK than in the US, Gemalto’s Rémi de Fouchier forecasts... More
Facebook has extended its ‘buy’ button pilot to US retailers using the Shopify commerce platform... More
UK supermarket giant Tesco has launched its “biggest trial” of Bluetooth beacon technology to date in partnership with consumer goods company Unilever... More
NXP engineers Franz Amtmann and Philippe Maugars have won the European Patent Office (EPO) European Inventor Award in recognition of the role they played in the birth of NFC... More
Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson has partnered with Verifone Mobile Money to add support for NFC and contactless payments to its mobile commerce platform, enabling its carrier customers in emerging markets to add in-store mobile payments capabilities to their mobile money services... More
Payments giant Verifone will support retailer loyalty and rewards programs, in addition to NFC mobile payments, via Apple Pay from the autumn with the release of iOS 9... More
US grocery chain Whole Foods Market will be among the first companies to add their loyalty cards to Apple Pay later this year, alongside iOS 9 and the Passbook app to be renamed ‘Wallet’... More
Mobile payment solution SEQR, developed by Swedish m-commerce software firm Seamless, is to launch in the US, making it the eleventh country where the system is available... More
Event organiser Reed Exhibitions is using Poken’s conference technology platform at the IBTM America exhibition in Chicago to collect exhibitor information, let attendees check-in for meetings, and exchange and collect contact information and digital brochures using an NFC device... More
A one-stop guide aimed at helping banks and financial institutions that want to deploy NFC mobile payment solutions, but are unsure about the right route to market, is now available to download from the NFC World Knowledge Centre... More
US bank Wells Fargo is piloting a face and voice authentication system with 100 customers using its mobile app on their iPhones... More
Semiconductor maker Texas Instruments is running an NFC wearable design challenge, inviting developers to use its RF430FRL15xH NFC sensor transponder to create wearable health and fitness applications... More
Nearly a third (31%) of global payment and banking experts believe mobile payments will go mainstream in their region in the next five years, and 41% believe mass NFC and contactless adoption will occur within the same period, research from retail banking provider Compass Plus has found... More
Hotel chain Residence Inn by Marriott is to pilot image recognition and augmented reality technology that will allow guests to scan beverage coasters to access interactive experiences, including games and food and drink suggestions, on their smartphones... More
Payments startup Rhombus has launched a platform in the US that lets consumers send payments and donations to businesses on any mobile device by texting the amount owed and a description of what they want to buy to a dedicated Rhombus number... More