UnionPay International launches mobile payment service platform to accelerate rolling out of its mobile payment worldwide — UnionPay — “UnionPay International will introduce Huawei Pay to the global markets this year, and Russia is expected to be the first country outside mainland China where Huawei Pay will be launched. In addition, UnionPay QR code payment will be available in Tajikistan, Japan, Cambodia and Suriname this year… UnionPay International is working with major institutions in Hong Kong, Kenya, and Nepal in jointly developing the international version of the UnionPay app.”
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Google expands support for wearable payments to Canada, Spain, and Australia
Google Pay on Wear OS officially spreads to three new countries — Android Police — “In addition to using NFC-equipped watches to make regular mobile payments, users in Australia can use their Wear OS devices with the Opal ticketing system to pay for single-trip tickets on select rail and ferry lines… Formerly, Google’s payment service was only supported on Android Wear (now Wear OS) devices in the US and the UK.”
American Express files faster blockchain payments patent
Systems and methods for blockchain based payment networks — USPTO — “A system, method, and computer readable medium (collectively, the ‘system’) is disclosed for a payment network using a blockchain-based ledger that is configured to execute payment transactions in response to blockchain requests… In various embodiments, the system may assess a risk associated with the transaction. The system may also approve the transaction in response to the risk associated with the transaction being acceptable. The system may also transmit a notification (eg a push notification) to the payee digital wallet that the transaction was successful.”
Crédit Agricole expands HCE payments to Visa cardholders
PARTNER NEWS: Crédit Agricole has added support for Visa cards to its HCE mobile payments service, enabling both Mastercard and Visa cardholders to make use of its Ma Carte application and Paylib, the French interbank payment brand, for the first time... More
Android P to include support for GlobalPlatform Open Mobile API
Previewing Android P — Google — “Android P adds an implementation of the GlobalPlatform Open Mobile API [OMAPI] to Android. On supported devices, apps can use the OMAPI API to access secure elements (SE) to enable smart card payments and other secure services. A hardware abstraction layer (HAL) provides the underlying API for enumerating a variety of secure elements (eSE, UICC, and others) available.”
Google to let users send money directly from their Google Contacts app?
Google Contacts adds ability to send money via Google Pay Send — Android Police — “Back in November, Google added money transfers to Android Messages via Google Wallet (now known as Google Pay Send). We noticed some strings in our teardown of the Google Contacts app last week that suggested the same addition would be coming soon, and it’s now hit at least one reader in Canada.”
Samsung Pay to launch in France ‘before the summer’
Groupe BPCE to become the first banking group to launch Samsung Pay in France for Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne customers — Groupe BPCE — “Groupe BPCE is announcing the launch in France of the Samsung Pay mobile payment solution, before the summer and on an exclusive basis, for Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Epargne customers equipped with compatible Samsung smartphones… Customers will be able to make purchases with their smartphones wherever contactless Visa payments are accepted. Holders of the Apetiz meal voucher card will also soon be able to pay for their lunches directly with the Samsung smartphones.”
Capital One lets cardholders create virtual card numbers in their browser
Capital One’s shopping assistant Eno can now dole out virtual card numbers in the browser — Techcrunch — “Capital One’s card numbers let you pay without needing to use (or even locate) your credit card account information, once the extension is set up and configured. The extension instantly creates virtual card numbers when you go to a site’s checkout page… The Eno extension will also auto-fill your payment information on the checkout page, and reappear when you return to the same site.”
PCI updates payment device standard to support PIN entry on mobile phones and tablets
PCI Security Standards Council updates payment device standard to support software-based PIN entry on COTS — PCI Security Standards Council — “The updated device standard supports the development of PCI software-based PIN entry on COTS (SPoC) solutions for merchants that enable EMV contact and contactless transactions with PIN entry on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, such as tablets and smartphones.”
Kakao Pay reports 1m users of its blockchain-based mobile identity service
Kakao Pay’s blockchain-based authentication boasts 1m users — Yonhap News — “Users of KakaoTalk, South Korea’s top mobile messenger, can use the authentication service on the mobile messenger without having to download an application. A total of 20 institutions and companies, including insurer AIA Life Korea and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority, use the service, Kakao Pay said, adding that it plans to expand the service.”
Fitbit includes payments on special edition of new Versa smartwatch
Fitbit introduces Fitbit Versa, the smartwatch for all — Fitbit — “Leave your wallet at home and easily pay in any store where contactless payments are accepted… Now available with Fitbit Pay on Fitbit Versa Special Edition products; supported by nearly 40 banks in 14 countries, through eligible US American Express, Mastercard and Visa cards, with more countries and banks rolling out in 2018.”
Google to work with European banks on PSD2 opportunities
Google says it is looking to partner with banks, not be their rival — The Irish Times — “Florence Diss, head of commerce partnerships for Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said the company is actively working with a number of banks to explore opportunities arising from the payments services directive 2 (PSD2)… Ms Diss’s comments come as Google joined with KBC Bank Ireland at Finovate to demonstrate the latter’s mobile app, which allows users to open a current account in less than five minutes using a selfie for identification purposes.”
Bain & Co explains how a Bank of Amazon could save the retailer $250m a year in interchange fees
Banking’s Amazon moment — Bain & Company — “Amazon could avoid more than a quarter of a billion dollars in annual interchange fees in the US alone. This estimate is based on three assumptions: Amazon achieves the bank account penetration our consumer research suggests; 15% of its e-commerce customers pay directly from their Amazon bank account instead of through a credit card; and those customers spend at the same level as Amazon Prime customers.”
Danske Bank partners with S-Bank to expand its MobilePay service to Finland
The revolution of mobile paying begins here: MobilePay to be introduced at S Group shops — Danske Bank — “In the autumn, all Finns will be offered the possibility to pay for their shopping and collect Bonus using a mobile phone. This becomes a reality as S Group and S-Bank enable payment with MobilePay at all S Group’s grocery shops around Finland… In Denmark, MobilePay is already used by 65 banks and more than 90% of all Danes.”
Square lets users deposit their wages in its Cash app
Square’s Cash app now supports direct deposits for your paycheck — Techcrunch — “This feature combined with the Cash app’s debit card now means that the app can essentially provide all the basic functions of a bank account.”
Google adds chat feature to Tez mobile payments app
Google integrates chat option on Tez payments app — Economic Times — “Google has integrated a chat option in the Google Tez application and is slowly rolling it out to its 13.5 million active users, taking the competition directly to WhatsApp… The payment application which runs on the Unified Payments Interface railroads will now allow consumers to not only send money to each other but also open up an option for conversation around the transaction.”
Japanese banks to roll out blockchain-based instant payments
Ripple powered mobile app to provide on-demand domestic payments in Japan — Ripple — “MoneyTap allows the bank consortium customers to make instant domestic payments and only requires a bank account, phone number, or QR code… The Japan bank consortium, led by SBI Ripple Asia, is comprised of 61 banks covering more than 80% of all banking assets in Japan… Three members of the Japan bank consortium: SBI Net Sumishin Bank, Suruga Bank and Resona Bank will be the first to go live on the mobile app in autumn of 2018. This will be followed by a staggered roll out to the rest of consortium.”
UK supermarket rolls out in-aisle checkout and rewards
Convenient future in store as Co-op dials-up pay in aisle technology — Co-op — “The innovative move, which harnesses the latest technology, allows customers to scan products on their own device as they walk around the store — known as a ‘frictionless shopping experience’. When they have finished shopping, the amount they owe will then be deducted from their account with a single click… The technology also links information from a customer’s Co-op Membership account — telling shoppers how much they have saved and, how much the Co-op will donate to local good causes following the transaction.”
Barclaycard reports rapid rise in mobile and wearable payments volumes
Next phase of contactless revolution sees rapid growth in mobile and wearable payments — Barclaycard — “The amount spent using Barclaycard’s Android Contactless Mobile facility has increased 365% year-on-year, while spending via bPay — a unique, flexible payments chip that can be embedded into a variety of products such as watches and jewellery — jumped 129%… Overall, contactless payments, including those made on a credit and debit card, have seen continued growth over the last 12 months, with a 79% uplift in spending.”
Rakuten to use blockchain for global loyalty and payments program
Rakuten will roll its $9bn loyalty program into a new blockchain-based cryptocurrency, Rakuten Coin — Techcrunch — “The company is planning a new cryptocurrency called Rakuten Coin — built on blockchain technology and the company’s existing loyalty program, Rakuten Super Points — which it plans to use to encourage loyalty services globally and to help customers to buy goods across different Rakuten services and markets… The news was announced by Rakuten’s CEO Hiroshi “Mickey” Mikitani on stage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where he described Rakuten Coin as a ‘borderless’ currency.”