Residence Inn trials augmented reality

Hotel chain Residence Inn by Marriott is to pilot image recognition and augmented reality technology that will allow guests to scan beverage coasters to access interactive experiences, including games and food and drink suggestions, on their smartphones... More


Facebook expands free Bluetooth beacon program

Facebook

Facebook is offering free Bluetooth beacons to select businesses across the US that will enable them to send “useful and relevant” information to customers about the places they visit. The move comes as an update to the social network’s Place Tips service that was piloted in New York City earlier this year. More



Credit union to add Touch ID

Montgomery County Employees Federal Credit Union is working with digital banking provider Digital Insight to add Touch ID to its mobile banking apps... More



What's New in Payments

Apple Pay users in UK will be able to make payments above contactless card limit

Apple Pay

Customers who choose to use Apple Pay when the service launches in the UK will be able to use the mobile payments service to make transactions over the current contactless limit of £20 (US$30) at select retail locations, according to Visa Europe’s executive director of mobile. MasterCard also expects to see merchants being able to accept higher-value transactions in time. More




Williams-Sonoma adds shoppable videos

US houseware and home furnishing retailer Williams-Sonoma has launched a four-part video series that uses YouTube’s new “shoppable” technology to allow its online shoppers to buy the showcased products with a click through Visa Checkout. The first video is now live online while the following three will follow later this summer... More