US mobile payments provider Square is pulling out of the consumer mobile wallet business and its Square Wallet app is no longer available to new customers to download... More
USA
Apple upgrades its mPOS
Apple is to equip US store staff with a new version of its EasyPay mPOS solution that replaces the existing iPod devices with an iPhone 5S, encased in a Verifone shell, that offers support for both EMV “chip and pin” cards and contactless payments, Forbes reports... More
For Sale boards get BLE
US start-up RealtyBeacon is making it possible for real estate agents to deliver details about a property for sale to potential buyers as they drive by, by adding Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons to their ‘For Sale’ boards... More
Duane Reade installs Bluetooth beacons in ten New York stores
New York-based drugstore chain Duane Reade has upgraded its iPhone app to include support for iBeacons and ten of its 240 New York stores have been equipped with Bluetooth LE beacons in a bid to “foster greater customer engagement.”... More
MoneyGram offers cash transfers via Facebook
Money transfer service provider MoneyGram has partnered with PicomoPay to enable US consumers to send funds to any of MoneyGram’s 336,000 agents around the world from the social payments provider’s Facebook application... More
Huntington offers instant balances
Huntington National Bank has updated its mobile app to allow customers to check their account balances without having to enter a username or password... More
Tribeca Film Festival fans get free passes via NFC
More than 1,000 film fans attending last month’s Tribeca Film Festival tapped a promotional poster with an NFC phone to get a free movie ticket, technology providers HID Global and Tamoco report... More
Cantaloupe to run Isis promo
Cloud-based vending solutions provider Cantaloupe Systems has added support for the Isis SmartTap NFC platform and is to offer Isis Mobile Wallet users a “buy three get one free” promotion on purchases made at its cashless-enabled vending machines around the US... More
Verizon outs Samsung’s Ativ SE
US network Verizon has revealed details of Samsung’s latest Windows Phone handset, pre-empting the manufacturer’s own announcement of the device... More
Clear Channel to take NFC advertising global
Clear Channel Outdoor is to equip 75,000 out-of-home advertising sites in 23 countries around the world with its Connect mobile advertising platform, allowing consumers to interact with brands via NFC tags, QR codes and, in Latin America, via SMS... More
Znap takes NFC to New York and Liverpool music festivals
Mobile payments provider Znap has showcased NFC payments at the New York Sound City conference and music festival and will also introduce its solution in the UK at a Liverpool Sound City event on May 20... More
NYC gets NFC ads at bus stops
Bus stops in a number of New York City metro areas have been equipped with Thinaire’s Tapp Store solution, enabling consumers to download Android mobile games via NFC, QR or SMS... More
Google Wallet ends support for physical secure elements
From 14 April 2014 it will only be possible to use Google Wallet to make an NFC payment using a device that supports host card emulation (HCE)... More
DeviFi sells Moneto
DeviceFidelity’s Moneto prepaid NFC payments service has been acquired by remote deposit capture specialist Cachet Financial Solutions... More
BadgePass rolls out NFC eID
Employee ID specialist BadgePass is now making Allegion’s aptiQmobile NFC-based access control system commercially available to its clients, enabling customers to issue mobile credentials directly from BadgePass software to employees’ smartphones in the same way they issue physical cards today... More
Isis considers HCE as monthly growth hits 50%
US NFC venture Isis is considering using host card emulation (HCE) to store a user’s loyalty card and coupon information, the company has told NFC World, and is also looking into supporting HCE for credit card payments — should banks decide they want to use the technology... More
Maverik to offer Isis at the pump
US fuel and convenience store chain Maverik will start accepting Isis mobile payments at the pump this month, using Wayne Tap NFC/Contactless readers... More
SMEs get Isis SmartTap
Payment services provider Merchant Warehouse has integrated Isis SmartTap into its Genius Customer Engagement Platform, enabling small and medium sized businesses to process NFC payments and deploy customized offers to new and prospective customers via the Isis Mobile Wallet... More
Verizon adds Isis iPhone cases
US carrier Verizon has introduced a range of NFC cases for iPhone users, enabling Apple phone owners to make Isis NFC payments... More
Wells Fargo customers to get credits for paying with Isis
Isis is offering 15,000 Wells Fargo credit card holders a 20% credit on purchases and a US$20 statement credit if they sign up and make use of its NFC payments service... More