The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has published a white paper that explores potential technical and design options for issuing and distributing retail central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and proposes a two-tier system as “one possible design” for a digital HK dollar or e-HKD... More
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NFC Forum unveils Wayfinding Mark as global identifier for NFC tapping locations
The NFC Forum has launched a series of graphics incorporating a Wayfinding Mark that can be displayed on NFC connected products, labels, devices and other locations in order to show consumers exactly where and how to tap with their NFC-enabled device to ensure “optimal connectivity”... More
EPI calls for public funding to support pan-European payments system
The European Payments Initiative (EPI) is seeking public funding to support its development of a unified payment system across Europe that would compete with US-based networks such as Visa and Mastercard, EPI chief executive Martina Weimert has said... More
Three in four airline passengers support the use of biometrics to speed up airport processes
Nearly three quarters of airline passengers (73%) say they are willing to share their biometric data in order to speed up airport processes and reduce queuing at security, border control and boarding gates, according to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) survey... More
African payment apps to add ultrasonic authentication for contactless transactions
Consumers across Africa will soon be able to use Nigeria-based payment services provider Paga Group’s mobile apps to authenticate in-store and person-to-person contactless payments using ultrasonic data-over-sound proximity verification technology... More
Australian liquor store chain adds NFC shelf labels to enhance customer engagement
Consumers purchasing beer, wine and spirits at outlets operated by Dan Murphy’s in Australia can now get product information and read customer reviews about specific products by tapping an NFC shelf label with their smartphone... More
Central Bank of Nigeria issues nearly 500,000 eNaira wallets since launching CBDC
More than 488,000 consumers in Nigeria have downloaded an eNaira digital wallet and conducted transactions worth a total of 62m naira (US$151,000) in the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) since its launch in October, according to a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) spokesman... More
Agreements reveal Apple’s requirements for US states launching digital IDs in Wallet
Memorandums of agreement between Apple and some of the US states due to offer digital identity documents in Wallet reveal that the states are required to cover the cost of systems for issuing the digital credentials and that Apple retains control over when the service launches, which devices are compatible with it and the right to review and approve how it is marketed... More
In-vehicle payment transaction volumes to top 4.7bn globally by 2026
Global transaction volumes for in-vehicle payments made directly from vehicle systems without the use of a smartphone will exceed 4.7bn by 2026, up from 87m in 2021, according to a forecast by Juniper Research... More
Nine in ten transit agencies plan to introduce new smart ticketing options to aid post-pandemic recovery
More than nine in ten transit agencies (92%) are planning to introduce new mobile and contactless fare payment solutions to help support a return to pre-pandemic passenger levels, a survey has found... More
VTB lets customers make contactless ATM withdrawals with digital bank cards
Customers of Russia-based bank VTB can now use a digital debit or credit card to make contactless cash withdrawals from its ATMs using their iOS or Android device... More
eBay UK adds NFC-enabled authenticity guarantee for pre-owned luxury watches
UK consumers who purchase pre-owned luxury watches from online auction site eBay can now authenticate their purchase via an NFC chip embedded in a certification card issued with the watch... More
Mercedes to let drivers authenticate in-vehicle payments for goods and services with their fingerprint
Mercedes drivers in the UK and Germany will soon be able to authorise in-car payments for goods and services using a fingerprint sensor in their vehicle’s dashboard... More
ST adds privacy features and Augmented NDEF to Type 2 NFC tags
PARTNER NEWS: STMicroelectronics has added two new Type 2 NFC tag chips to its ST25TN series that support privacy features such as digital signatures and are suitable for high-volume use cases including consumer engagement, brand protection and access control... More
Mississippi to pilot mobile ID app for driving licences and Covid-19 vaccination cards
The US state of Mississippi is to pilot a mobile driving licence as a first step towards developing a multipurpose digital ID wallet where residents can store a range of state-issued certificates and licences... More
UK safeguarding scheme protects dementia patients with NFC wristbands
Avon and Somerset Police’s Dementia Safeguarding Scheme is issuing dementia patients in the west of England with NFC wristbands that enable them to be identified and quickly returned to their family or carers should they get lost or go missing... More
Ducati secures e-scooter with NFC
Italian vehicle manufacturer Ducati has launched an e-scooter that can only be started using an NFC-enabled contactless key. More
One in two UK consumers would consider a payments chip implant
Just over one in two (51%) UK consumers would consider making payments using a chip implanted in their hand provided it met certain criteria including medical safety and privacy protection, a new survey reveals... More
Singapore lets residents store digital Covid vaccination certificates on Android devices
Residents of Singapore can now add a digital version of their Covid-19 vaccination certificate to their Android device and access it from Google Pay or by adding a shortcut to their device’s home page... More
Sri Lanka launches national QR code mobile payments solution
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has begun a nationwide rollout of the LankaQR digital payments solution that enables consumers to make payments to merchants and service providers directly from their bank account by scanning a QR code with their mobile device... More