Japan-based payments network JCB is to begin testing a contactless payments service in Tokyo this month, ahead of a commercial rollout in 2015. “In addition to plastic cards, J/Speedy can be issued for a wide variety of devices, including mobile and wearable devices,” JCB says. More
A ‘buy now’ button has been seen on Twitter, leading to speculation the social media giant is trialling a new ‘in-tweet’ ecommerce service, Re/code says... More
“In some parts of the developed world, NFC can sometimes be a solution looking for a problem but we’ve got plenty of problems here in Africa and it is an ideal solution for quite a few of them,” says mobile money expert Susie Lonie. More
Android L will offer an easier way for users to share their WiFi passwords, Android Police reports... More
London’s Oval Cricket Ground is to test a mobile ordering and payment solution that lets fans use their mobile phone to place an order and complete payment without having to leave their seat. The service is already in use at Durham County Cricket Club and is also to be tested by the UK’s Everyman Cinema chain. More
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US pharmacy chain Walgreens is piloting a shopper marketing platform that uses Google’s Project Tango 3D augmented reality technology to let shoppers locate a particular product, get directions to the correct aisle and earn rewards as they shop. More
Moto X phone owners can now protect access to their mobile using a ‘digital tattoo’ developed by VivaLnk that can be positioned on the wrist and stays in place for five days. More
Russian Standard Bank has partnered with Samsung and MasterCard to offer NFC payments to consumers with a Galaxy S4 or Note 3 mobile phone. The service is the second embedded NFC payments service to be introduced by Samsung and MasterCard and follows the launch of a similar service by Commonwealth Bank of Australia in December 2013. More
BBVA has become the first bank to launch a commercial NFC payments service that makes use of Visa’s cloud-based payments specifications. Customers in Spain with an Android NFC handset can use host card emulation (HCE) to make contactless payments today and the service will be extended to customers in the US, Mexico and Chile later this year. More
Samsung is providing Galaxy NFC device owners with a range of exclusive rewards and incentives via a new service that offers access to VIP lounges and suites, seat upgrades and vouchers for concessions and merchandise at 41 AEG venues across the US. More
Twenty bars and restaurants in New York are using a new service that combines mobile payments with social networking, enabling customers to pay their tab, meet up and communicate with friends and send ‘Goodies’ like drinks and food to their contacts. More
The city of Edinburgh’s new tram service is using QR codes placed at tram stops to validate passengers’ mobile tickets before they board. More
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LevelUp has added in-app surveys to its mobile payments platform, enabling restaurant owners to collect feedback from customers and respond straight away to any complaints. The idea, LevelUp says, is to give merchants a way to identify and instantly resolve any problems before a diner has the chance to tell friends or post about a bad experience on social media. More
HotelTonight is to upgrade its Android app to enable customers to unlock their rooms via NFC, where a hotel supports the technology... More
Google’s Chromecast media streamer, which enables users to send shows, movies, music and more to large screens, is to use a new ultrasonic connectivity technology to enable mobile devices to be paired with a Chromecast-equipped television, GigaOm reports. More
New support for Android Beam, the name used for NFC peer-to-peer sharing in Android, is to be introduced with Android L, version 5.0 of Google’s operating system. More
The next generation of Android, unveiled at the Google I/O developer conference, will offer mobile payments, banking and commerce providers a wide range of new functions. Android L includes support for BLE’s peripheral mode, tighter integration with Android Wear devices, new security features, upgraded notifications and enhancements to Google Play and carrier billing. More
Developers attending Google’s I/O conference have been given a DIY virtual reality headset that includes an NFC tag for connecting the device to their mobile phone. More
Supermarket giant Carrefour and convenience store group Nisa are piloting a new technology that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons attached to trolleys and baskets to track a shopper’s journey around the store. More
Hospitality technology startup Mahana has introduced a customer service platform that gives hotel and casino staff a way to improve customer service by accessing guest information on the go. More