Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Qatar has launched an Android version of its mobile app, which uses iBeacon technology to deliver passengers information about special offers at retail outlets, as well as real-time details on flights, baggage claim and location-based services... More
App
Banca Intesa launches HCE mobile payments in Serbia
Customers of Serbia’s Banca Intesa — a subsidiary of Italian banking group Intesa Sanpaolo — have become the first in the Balkan country to be able to make host card emulation (HCE) based mobile payments, using their Visa debit cards at any contactless terminal... More
Students develop SMS biometric authentication app
Four students from India’s Birla Institute of Technology and Science have developed an SMS-based biometric authentication system for use in rural areas with poor internet connection... More
China’s mobile commerce lead over US revealed in IAB report
China is leading the US when it comes to mobile commerce, with nearly twice as many Chinese consumers making a mobile purchase over the previous 12 months than their American counterparts, a study by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) says... More
Orange Cash supports Apple Pay
Orange’s mobile wallet app Orange Cash now supports Apple Pay in France, with support from German payment firm Wirecard, the operator has announced... More
US consumers’ use of in-store mobile payments set to soar
The value of mobile payment transactions made in the US is expected to rise 183.3% this year to US$27.67bn, more than doubling next year and reaching US$314.13bn by the year 2020, research released by eMarketer reveals... More
Smartphone maker offers mVisa QR code payments in India
Smartphone maker Micromax is to offer the mVisa QR code-based mobile payments service through its Udio mobile app across India, in collaboration with Visa and payments solution provider TranServ... More
Spanish bank offers ‘selfie’ service to open account
BBVA bank is offering new customers in Spain the chance to open an account with them using their mobile phone, with identity verified using face recognition and video calls... More
US bank app allows ability to dispute charges
Citi credit card owners can now dispute charges within the bank’s iPhone app in the US... More
McDonald’s to launch mobile order and pay next year
McDonald’s is planning to launch a mobile order and pay service in up to 25,000 restaurants worldwide by the end of 2018, starting in the US next year, the fast food giant has told NFC World... More
CIBC to be Samsung Pay’s Canada launch partner?
A screenshot taken by a Reddit user of the Samsung Pay app suggests Canadian bank CIBC will be the launch partner for the mobile payment service when it becomes available in the country some time this year... More
Apple says Australian banks are ‘not interested’ in promoting mobile payments competition
Apple is claiming the group of Australian banks pushing for the company to open up access to the NFC technology within its handsets is “not interested in promoting competition in mobile payments” within the country... More
Caffè Nero to build mobile payments with Yoyo Wallet
Coffee chain Caffè Nero is to build a mobile payment and loyalty platform for its customers using technology supplied by QR code-based platform Yoyo Wallet... More
SIMalliance transfers Open Mobile API to GlobalPlatform
Trade association SIMalliance is transferring ownership of its Open Mobile API (OMAPI) specification to standards body GlobalPlatform... More
Mobile payments and IoT trends for smartwatches
Internet of things, monitoring for insurance and mobile wallet expansion are three of the key emerging smartwatch app trends found in research by Parks Associates... More
Walmart to add Chase Pay to Walmart Pay service later this year
US retail giant Walmart has become the latest to announce its support for Chase Pay, with plans to enable its customers to make payments through the mobile payment service online and in-app as well as in-store, by integrating Chase Pay within its own Walmart Pay QR code-based mobile payment service... More
National Express launches mobile ticketing service
Passengers on National Express bus services across the West Midlands in the UK can now buy monthly travel passes and have them validated directly on their smartphones... More
Google Wallet unveils payments app for web browsers
Google has unveiled a new Google Wallet web app that will allow users to send money to friends and family through a web browser... More
Italian olive oil brands integrate NFC for authentication and engagement
Italian olive oil brands Buonamici, La Ranocchiaia, SPO and Il Cavallino are integrating NFC tags into their product lines to enable authentication and enhance consumer engagement, by delivering product information and other relevant content to customers’ smartphones... More
Google Maps update enables food ordering from app
An update to Google Maps on iOS allows users to order food from their favourite restaurants directly from the app... More