Over half a billion mobile money accounts have been registered in 92 countries, with 1.3bn transactions processed in December 2016 alone, research from GSMA reveals... More
More than 500m people now have a mobile money account
Smartphone
NXP reveals secure element and NFC solution that speeds transaction times, increases security and supports smaller form factors
PARTNER NEWS: A new embedded secure element and NFC solution from NXP will make it possible for mobile transactions to be conducted at the same speed as contactless card transactions... More
3bn digital banking users by 2021
Nearly 3bn users will have access to retail banking services through smartphones, tablets, PCs and smartwatches by 2021, Juniper Research reveals, up 53% from 2017... More
Tostitos tortilla chip bags use NFC to order an Uber when consumers are too drunk to drive
US consumers can now order a discounted Uber ride by tapping their NFC smartphone against a bag of Tostitos tortilla chips when they have had too much to drink. The bag detects the presence of alcohol on a person’s breath and shows either a green or red steering wheel to alert the consumer of whether or not they are safe to drive home. More
White paper sets out ‘game changer’ role for NFC in public transport ticketing
A 14-page white paper that aims to educate public transport operators, mobile network operators and handset manufacturers on how to implement NFC technology across transportation systems, while ensuring consistent, reliable and efficient performance between devices and mobile ticketing systems, is now available to download from the NFC World Knowledge Centre. More
Palm vein authentication system launched for mobile devices
A palm vein authentication system compact enough to be used in tablets and other mobile devices as “dependable as current optical units” has been unveiled by Japanese electronics firm Fujitsu... More
Global mobile payment market to hit US$780bn in 2017
The global mobile payment market will reach US$780bn by the end of 2017, amounting to an annual increase of 25.8%, research firm TrendForce predicts... More
Biometric smartphones double in a year
The number of smartphone models incorporating biometric technology has more than doubled in the last year, a report by Acuity Market Intelligence says... More
LG unveils front-facing camera with built-in iris scanner
LG Innotek has unveiled an all-in-one module that functions as both a front-facing camera as well as an iris scanner which could be built into LG smartphones scheduled to launch next year, Korean publication Digital Times reports... More
Study shows growing European appetite for mobile payments
Some 54% of European consumers are using a mobile device to make payments for a range of activities in-store, in-app and online, compared to 18% at this time last year, Visa’s 2016 Digital Payments Study has revealed... More
Valeo and Gemalto launch mobile car keys for Bluetooth access
PARTNER NEWS: Drivers will soon be able to use their smartphone or connected watch to lock or unlock their car, start it, control applications and remotely access useful vehicle information using Bluetooth technology and automotive products supplier Valeo’s new virtual car key system... More
EMVCo to certify mobile devices for NFC and HCE payments
EMVCo has introduced a formal industry testing and certification process for contactless mobile payment devices... More
Mobile-only bank goes live in Germany
Mobile network operator Telefónica Deutschland has launched a mobile-only bank in partnership with Fidor Bank in Germany. The service will allow peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions to be made using mobile phone numbers and will come with a Mastercard debit card for in-store and ATM transactions. More
White paper advises banks on launching Android-based mobile payment services
A 16-page white paper designed to help banks make informed decisions about bringing an Android-based mobile payments service to market is now available to download from the NFC World Knowledge Centre. More
Motorists rewarded for mobile payments at the pump
Motorists using the GC Express gas station in Caro, Michigan, are being offered a free coffee or drink whenever they pay for fuel purchases of US$10 or more with Team One Credit Union’s mobile banking app. More
Samsung Pay prepping rewards programme
Samsung is preparing to launch its own rewards program that will let consumers earn and redeem points each time they use Samsung Pay... More
Samsung Pay to launch in Brazil this month
Samsung Pay will begin rolling out across Brazil on July 19, Samsung has confirmed, making it the first market in South America to introduce the mobile payment service. It will be supported by both MasterCard and Visa as well as Banco do Brasil, Brasil Pré-Pagos, Caixa, Porto Seguro, and Santander. More
Vodafone Wallet launches NFC mobile ticketing in Albacete
Commuters in the Spanish city of Albacete can now add their PayBus Albacete transport card to the Vodafone Wallet app and validate their journeys by tapping their NFC device against a contactless terminal on board. More
Samsung Pay launches in Puerto Rico
Samsung Pay has gone live in Puerto Rico with support from Banco Popular, the country’s largest bank. The service is supported by MasterCard and Visa and is available from mobile network operators AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Claro. More
Survey reveals Samsung Pay tops satisfaction list in US
Apple Pay captures the greatest proportion of eligible users in the US with 33%, followed by Samsung Pay with 23%, research released by Auriemma Consulting Group (ACG) reveals. However, Samsung Pay users report higher satisfaction levels and fewer issues at the point of sale compared to Apple Pay users, with near equal proportions recommending both mobile payment services. More