Heat become first NBA team with mobile-only entry — ESPN — “The Miami Heat announced Thursday that fans who attend home games this upcoming season will only be able to get through the gate with tickets on their phones… Teams are gradually shifting to mobile tickets, they say, in part to reduce fraud, but also to get valuable information about the fan who actually winds up in a specific seat.”
USA
Digital payment platforms primed to topple cash
Digital payment platforms primed to topple cash — US Bank — “According to the recent US Bank Cash Behavior Survey, 47% of consumers surveyed say they prefer the use of digital apps to make payments versus cash (45%)… Overall, 50% of survey respondents reported carrying cash less than half of the time. When they do carry cash, nearly half of consumers surveyed keep less than US$20 on hand, and 76% keep less than $50.”
New Little Caesars Reserve-n-Ready service transforms the way customers pick up pizza
New Little Caesars Reserve-n-Ready service transforms the way customers pick up pizza — Little Caesars — “Customers just place an order and pre-pay via the Little Caesars mobile app. The app will notify the customer when the order is ready. When the customer arrives at the store, they skip the line and go directly to the Pizza Portal and input a three-digit pin or scan a QR code. Then, the door on the customer’s secured compartment opens, and they take their hot, fresh order.”
Walmart deploying tech that lets in-store shoppers check out — on their own
Walmart deploying tech that lets in-store shoppers check out — on their own — Chain Store Age — “The free app allows members to scan merchandise bar codes as they move throughout store aisles and add merchandise to their shopping carts. The app also keeps a running total and itemized list of merchandise and prices, and lets shoppers checkout directly through their smartphone.”
Green Dot CEO sets out how Apple Pay Cash will work
Prepaid card provider Green Dot “will perform several roles” for Apple when the iPhone maker launches its P2P payments and Apple Pay Cash services in the US in September, Green Dot CEO Steven Streit has revealed during the company’s Q2 2017 earnings call... More
New Texas law allows merchants to decline card purchases without ID
New Texas law allows merchants to decline card purchases without ID — The Texas Tribune — “A law that takes effect in January will allow Texas merchants to ask for photo identification for credit and debit card purchases — and turn down transactions if a buyer won’t show it… Payments made using a mobile wallet are exempt from the photo ID measure.”
Bank of America, Samsung pilot iris-scan logins
Bank of America, Samsung pilot iris-scan logins — American Banker — “Half of the bank’s mobile app users are using fingerprint authentication, which BofA rolled out in 2015. In addition to the iris scanning pilot, it is exploring the use of facial scanning and voice recognition.”
New bill seeks basic IoT security standards
New bill seeks basic IoT security standards — Krebs on Security — “The bill would require vendors of internet-connected devices purchased by the federal government make sure the devices can be patched when security updates are available; that the devices do not use hard-coded (unchangeable) passwords; and that vendors ensure the devices are free from known vulnerabilities when sold.”
Bank of America and PayPal partner to enable in-store payments and account linking
Bank of America and PayPal partner to enable in-store payments and account linking — Bank of America — “Bank of America will partner with PayPal to tokenize Bank of America cards for customers wishing to use PayPal for in-store purchases, across MasterCard and Visa portfolios in the US. This will support PayPal’s forthcoming NFC mobile wallet experience to enable in-store tap-to-pay purchases and reflects Bank of America’s open wallet strategy.”
TransferWise links with Apple Pay globally
TransferWise links with Apple Pay globally — Reuters — “The London-based money transfer company said on Thursday that it was joining with Apple Inc’s payments service in the US and a handful of other countries, following a similar move in the UK in 2015. This means users on Apple devices will no longer have to insert their payments card or bank account details to send money via TransferWise, but will be able to transfer funds through their Apple Pay account, speeding up the process.”
JCPenney adds credit cards and loyalty rewards to Apple Pay
Customers of US department store chain JCPenney can now add the retailer’s credit card to Apple Pay and make contactless payments at any of the company’s stores nationwide... More
Tech company workers agree to have microchips implanted in their hands
Tech company workers agree to have microchips implanted in their hands — ABC News – “Some workers at a company in Wisconsin will soon be getting microchips in order to enter the office, log into computers and even buy a snack or two with just a swipe of a hand… Three Square Market is footing the bill for the microchips, which cost US$300 each, and licensed piercers will be handling the implantations on August 1.”
Federal Reserve plans to endorse a faster payment system
Federal Reserve plans to endorse a faster payment system — Reuters — “The Federal Reserve on Monday said payments and money transfers should eventually be available in real time… Officials expect to outline next steps in the weeks ahead, Fed governor Jerome Powell said.”
PayPal to let Citibank and Chase customers pay with loyalty points
Citibank and JPMorgan Chase customers across the US will soon be able to make online purchases using loyalty points as currency at “millions of merchants” that accept PayPal... More
Amazon Pay Places lets you pay for real-world shopping using your Amazon info
Amazon Pay Places lets you pay for real-world shopping using your Amazon info — Techcrunch — “Amazon is today introducing a new feature called Amazon Pay Places, that allows customers to pay for in-store and order ahead shopping experiences using their Amazon app… Instead of using cash, check, credit or debit while shopping out in the real world, you can just use your Amazon account information. The first implementation of Pay Places involves a partnership with the TGI Friday’s restaurant chain.”
P2P payment transactions to exceed $120 billion this year
P2P payment transactions to exceed $120 billion this year — eMarketer — “The transaction value of US mobile P2P payments will grow 55.0% this year to $120.38 billion. This figure is on pace to double by 2021. In 2017, 63.5 million US adults will use a P2P payment app at least once a month, equating to nearly one-third (32.6%) of smartphone users.”
Samsung Pay announces partnership to allow users to pay via PayPal
Samsung Pay announces partnership to allow users to pay via PayPal — Samsung — “Access to PayPal will be available for all Samsung Pay users in the United States and will expand to other countries soon. Additionally, through Braintree, a PayPal service, merchants will be able to accept Samsung Pay as a method of payment in-app and online.”
Jet.com is installing Latch access systems in 1,000 NYC apartment buildings for easier deliveries
Jet.com is installing Latch access systems in 1,000 NYC apartment buildings for easier deliveries — TechCrunch — “Residents can use their phone as a key, grant access to guests without walking downstairs and of course get packages delivered safely without being home. Building managers can also use Latch’s system to grant access to trusted delivery providers like USPS at their discretion, but all of these 1,000 units will already be set up to provide access to Jet’s delivery partners.”
Coca-Cola reveals AI-powered vending machine app
Coca-Cola reveals AI-powered vending machine app — Venturebeat — “The app, which launches in about two weeks in places like US universities and locations around Australia and New Zealand, will allow you to order a Coca-Cola drink for yourself and a friend, then have it available on the vending machine.”
Viewpost survey reveals 80% of Americans support ‘futuristic’ payment technologies and currencies
Viewpost survey reveals 80% of Americans support ‘futuristic’ payment technologies and currencies — Viewpost — “35% see facial recognition as a key authentication technology for making payments within the next ten years, and 32% of Americans trust facial recognition for securing electronic payments. Retinal scanning and voice control — these advanced biometric methods have gained traction in consumers’ consciousness, with some 31% citing retinal scanning as a viable technology for authenticating payments and 18% seeing themselves using voice control to make payments by 2027.”