The University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque, USA, has introduced an ID scanning program at the entrances to its busiest campus buildings to collect contact information and improve the contact-tracing process during the Covid-19 pandemic... More
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Shinhan Card introduces iPhone case that lets owners use sounds to make contactless mobile payments
Card issuer Shinhan Card is providing consumers in South Korea, where Apple Pay is yet to launch, with a phone case that uses soundwave technology to enable them to make contactless payments with their iPhone... More
TreeCard launches wooden contactless debit card
Consumers in the USA and “a number of EU markets” can now apply for a debit card made from wood that also comes in a digital form and can be used to make contactless and mobile payments as well as cash withdrawals from banks and ATMs... More
Estonian fuel station installs self-service payments system that replaces need for physical card readers
Drivers in Estonia can now order and pay for their fuel directly from their smartphone at a station equipped with a fully automated cloud-based self-service system... More
Maryville University introduces NFC digital IDs
Students and staff at Maryville University in St Louis, Missouri, in the USA, can now use their mobile phone or wearable device to enter campus buildings, pay for meals or access other on-site services via the university’s digital identification system... More
Canadian retailer vends ready-made meals from contactless kiosks
Consumers in Calgary, Canada, can now order and pay for ready-made meals on their smartphone and then collect their food from an automated contactless kiosk by presenting a barcode shown on their mobile device... More
JCB, Mizuho Bank and Fujitsu to test blockchain-based identity exchange technology for securing transactions
One hundred employees of Japanese tech giant Fujitsu are taking part in a four-month trial of a blockchain-based interoperable identity verification system that “enables secure transactions involving sensitive user ID information between companies and industries”... More
Florida to introduce mobile driving licences
Drivers in the US state of Florida will soon be able to apply for a mobile driving licence that they can use to provide digital proof of their identity, licence status and age — just as they do with a conventional licence — and also to verify themselves when accessing a variety of online services... More
Scotland to pilot digital identity platform
The Scottish Government is to pilot a national digital identity system that enables citizens to store their identity information in their own ‘Attribute Store’ and then “share these attributes with other public sector service providers as and when needed”... More
Pret A Manger pilots contactless charity donations in UK outlets
Customers of Pret A Manger sandwich shops across London and Manchester can now make cashless charitable donations in store using their contactless payment card or mobile device... More
KFC Japan trials contactless lockers for mobile order pickups
Customers at four KFC outlets in Japan can now order and pay for their meals online, set a time for collection and then pick up their order from a contactless locker installed on the store’s counter... More
Monoprix pilots automated self-service store
Employees of French retail chain Monoprix are testing an automated self-service store that uses AI-based product recognition technology to enable them to select and pay for their products without going through a checkout... More
Metro de Sevilla introduces tap-and-go ticketing payments
Passengers on Metro de Sevilla services in the Spanish city of Seville can now pay their fares using their contactless debit or credit cards or their mobile device without needing to buy or recharge a ticket from a ticket vending machine... More
Russia paves way for introduction of biometric payments
The Russian government is expected to adopt a law that will enable Russian consumers to use face and voice recognition to authenticate in-store payments in shops, cafes and other retail outlets by the end of 2020, Izvestia reports... More
Central bank digital currency lottery attracts 2m Shenzhen residents
Nearly two million Shenzhen residents, representing 15% of the city’s population, signed up for a chance to win 200 digital yuan (US$29.65) in the ‘red envelope’ lottery held as part of China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot... More
Bank of Japan to test central bank digital currency
The Bank of Japan is to begin the first phase of proof-of-concept testing of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in early 2021, according to a statement published by the bank... More
Samsung to leverage UWB to let smartphone owners open doors at a distance
Owners of Galaxy smartphones equipped with ultra wideband (UWB) chips could soon be able to unlock home, office and vehicle doors from a distance with their Samsung device, the manufacturer has revealed... More
ST reports on NFC use cases and market trends in the automotive industry
From digital keys to diagnostics data transmission, consumables monitoring, in-vehicle payments, infotainment connectivity and car sharing, NFC technology offers an array of opportunities for vehicle manufacturers to add value, STMicroelectronics’ Rene Wutte explains in a webinar hosted by NFCW’s Sarah Clark... More
Philippe Starck designs NFC payments ring
Iconic designer Philippe Starck has created a smart ring that can be used to store payment cards and transport passes, make contactless payments, and transfer business and ID information... More
Razer pilots prepaid card that lights up when used for contactless payments
Users of Razer Pay, a digital wallet operated by gaming lifestyle brand Razer in Singapore, are taking part in the beta test of a premium prepaid card that lights up whenever a contactless payment is made... More