Governments should create robust trust frameworks that support the issuance and use of digital identity wallets created by private sector providers such as Apple and Google, but not issue wallets directly to end users themselves, according to the Open Identity Exchange (OIX)... More
Contactless
European Central Bank launches next phase of digital euro project
The European Central Bank (ECB) has completed the initial two-year investigation phase of its digital euro project and will now implement a two-year preparation phase that will cover the finalisation of a digital euro rulebook, the selection of providers to develop a digital euro platform and infrastructure, as well as testing and experimentation across a range of use cases for the central bank digital currency (CBDC)... More
Google Wallet lets users store digital IDs and driving licences on Android smartphones in Arizona, Colorado and Georgia
Residents of Arizona, Colorado and Georgia in the US can now add digital versions of their state-issued identity card and driving licence to Google Wallet on their Android NFC smartphone and use it to verify their identity at select Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints... More
X9 to upgrade wireless financial services standards for NFC, contactless and mobile payments technologies
The Accredited Standards Committee X9 is to upgrade the ANSI X9.112 Wireless Management and Security standard to address new and future vulnerabilities and risks to technologies – including NFC, RFID, WiFi and Bluetooth – that are used in devices supporting contactless and mobile payments such as payment cards, smartphones, point-of-sale (POS) terminals and ATMs... More
Spanish banks find that digital euro can run on existing payment rails
A working group of 30 Spanish banks and payment services providers, including BBVA, Banco Sabadell, Banco Santander, CaixaBank and Iberpay, have completed a proof of concept (PoC) trial for digital euro transactions and recommended that the proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC) is designed to leverage existing payments infrastructure... More
Apple lets US iPhone users check Discover Card balances and transaction history in Wallet
Apple iPhone users in the US with a Discover credit card will soon be able to opt in to a Connected Cards feature that enables them to check their card account balance and transaction history directly in Apple Wallet... More
UAE to launch national domestic card scheme
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to launch the country’s first national domestic card scheme (DCS) in order to promote the use of digital payments and enhance financial inclusion... More
Global purchase volumes hit US$42.7tn in 2022 as payment card spending worldwide increases by 1%
Total card purchase volume worldwide reached US$42.7tn in 2022 with global credit card volumes increasing by 7% and prepaid card volumes by 9%, according to research from RBR... More
China rolls out regional digital yuan giveaways to drive contactless cash adoption
Regions across China have launched a series of digital yuan voucher giveaways to drive adoption of the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) and encourage consumer spending using the digital currency during the Asian Games and the Mid-Autumn and National Day festivals... More
Moscow Metro adds support for concessionary fares to biometric payments system
Moscow Metro is testing an upgrade to its FacePay face biometric fare payment service that lets passengers entitled to concessionary fares link their Muscovite personal social card to their biometric details so they no longer need to use the card itself to prove their eligibility for a reduced-price ticket... More
Google lets Pixel 8 users authorise NFC payments with their face
Purchasers of Google’s new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones will be able to make NFC payments using Google Wallet and access other compatible banking and payments apps with their face. ... More
Samsung Wallet to roll out digital driving licences and IDs in Iowa and Arizona
Samsung users in Iowa and Arizona will be the first in the US to be able to add and store digital versions of their driving licence and state ID documents to Samsung Wallet on their Galaxy smartphone... More
Universal to roll out facial recognition at Orlando theme parks
Visitors to four Florida theme parks operated by entertainment giant Universal could soon be able to gain access to individual rides, events and different areas of each park using their face rather than showing their ticket... More
Singapore’s Changi Airport to let passengers travel passport free
Passengers travelling from Changi Airport in Singapore will soon be able to pass through automated touchpoints on their journey through the airport without needing to present their physical passport, boarding card or other travel documents... More
Transport for Wales to pilot contactless EMV card payments on rail services
Passengers travelling on selected rail services in Wales will soon be able to make contactless fare payments by tapping their physical or digital contactless EMV card on validators on station platforms or at ticket barriers at the beginning and end of each journey... More
Apple Wallet adds support for open banking APIs
Apple iPhone users in the UK can now check their current account balance, the remaining credit on their credit card and their debit and credit card transaction history directly in Apple Wallet... More
Amazon adds support for RFID tags to its Just Walk Out contactless store technology
Amazon is using RFID tags attached to individual product items to expand the range of outlets that can make use of its Just Walk Out technology to include clothing retailers and other non-food stores... More
China lets foreign visitors use credit cards to fund a central bank digital currency wallet
Tourists and other foreigners visiting China can now upload digital yuan to the country’s prototype central bank digital currency (CBDC) digital wallet using their Mastercard or Visa credit card... More
Mercedes goes live with in-vehicle biometric payments in Germany
Drivers of some Mercedes vehicles can now make contactless in-car payments for fuel at more than 3,600 service stations in Germany and authorise them using a fingerprint sensor in their vehicle’s dashboard. More
European Payments Initiative to launch pan-European digital wallet under Wero brand name
The European Payments Initiative (EPI) will launch its pan-European digital wallet for use on both iOS and Android devices under the commercial name of Wero, the initiative has revealed... More