What's New in Payments

National QR standard for mobile payments rolls out in Sri Lanka

Commercial Bank launches ComBank Q+ — Sri Lanka’s first QR based payment app under LankaQR — Commercial Bank of Ceylon — “The Commercial Bank of Ceylon (CBSL) has launched ComBank Q+ — the first Quick Response (QR) based payment app to be launched under LankaQR… LankaQR is the national QR standard for local currency payments introduced by the CBSL.”


NFC World

PCI SSC calls for comments on new standard for contactless payments on off-the-shelf NFC devices

Request for comments: Contactless payments on COTS standard — PCI Security Standards Council — “PCI SSC is developing a new standard for contactless payments on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices, which is planned for publication by the end of 2019. As part of the development process, PCI SSC stakeholders are invited to review and provide feedback on the draft PCI Contactless Payments on COTS (CPoC) Standard during a 30-day request for comments (RFC) period.”


What's New in Payments

ING lets Turkish businesses accept Mastercard payments on NFC mobile phones

Turning smartphones into mobile points of sale — ING — “Turkish small business owners can now use their smartphones to securely accept payments from customers following a pilot by ING and Mastercard. The ‘Tap on Phone’ application allows business owners to use their Android smartphone, tablet or other smart devices as mobile points of sale (POS), replacing the traditional cash register or electronic POS terminal… Any Android-based smartphone or tablet can be transformed into a mobile POS with the ‘Tap on Phone’ app and an activated near-field communication.”


What's New in Payments

RHB issues dynamic CVV cards to Malaysian customers

RHB introduces high-tech credit card — Malay Mail — “RHB Banking Group (RHB) has launched the RHB Rewards Motion Code Credit Card, featuring a dynamic card verification value (CVV) security code that regularly refreshes automatically. Acting head of retail banking Nazri Othman said RHB expects its new credit card issuance to increase by 15% annually with the launch of the high-tech credit card ― the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.”


What's New in Payments

Huawei expands NFC mobile payments to Hong Kong

Huawei rolling out new products to enhance user stickiness — Hong Kong Economic Journal — “Huawei Pay, which was launched in Hong Kong on Monday, allows users to settle bills in more than 40,000 retail spots accepting the UnionPay contactless card payment… Earlier this year, Huawei Pay was launched outside China for the first time. In Russia, 66 banks are now supporting the technology. Both Huawei and Honor smartphones will carry the new service, which is compatible with 20 mobile devices, including several smartwatches.”


NFC World

Amorim adds NFC to cork bottle stoppers

Amorim combats counterfeiting with NFC-enabled corks — The Spirits Business — “Leading cork producer Amorim has released a new range of bartop stoppers, which incorporate near field communication (NFC) technology to tackle counterfeiting… NFC-enabled phones will be able to access additional information such as serving and mixing suggestions, product information, promotional campaigns and competitions.”


What's New in Payments

East reports on Apple Pay fraud in Europe

East publishes European fraud update — European Association for Secure Transactions — “Two countries reported mobile wallet fraud in relation to Apple Pay. One reported that mobile wallets are fast becoming the new money mules — fraudsters are enrolling cards that are not yet associated with a specific wallet. Another country reported that fraudsters are obtaining security codes through phishing, with which they can then install a mobile banking app on their own smartphone, using the victim’s data.”


What's New in Payments

IMF reports on the impact of digital money on banking business models

IMF warns banks to evolve or be ‘left behind’ amid competition from big tech firms — CNBC — “IMF authors Tobias Adrian and Tommaso Mancini-Griffoli said the two most common forms of money today, cash and bank deposits, will ‘face tough competition and could even be surpassed’. But banks are ‘unlikely to disappear’ as they face growing threats from big tech companies and fintech start-ups, the paper said. ‘Some will be left behind no doubt,’ the authors wrote. ‘Others will evolve, but must do so quickly’.”


What's New in Payments

PayPal launches its Xoom mobile remittance service in Europe

PayPal expands its international money transfer service Xoom to 32 markets across Europe — Xoom — “Today, PayPal launched Xoom — its international money transfer service — in 32 markets across Europe. People in these markets can now use Xoom to quickly send money, pay bills or top up phones to more than 130 markets internationally.”


Transit Ticketing Today

Miami-Dade to roll out open loop ticketing in August?

Apple Pay coming to Miami fare system in August — Appleosophy — “Miami-Dade County’s fare system for their transit is set to begin accepting Apple Pay and other forms of contactless payment systems, such as Google Pay and Samsung Pay. According to an image found on Reddit, it would appear as though the Miami-Dade County transit system is set to begin accepting Apple Pay in August 2019.”


Transit Ticketing Today

Metrolink rolls out open loop ticketing on Manchester trams

Passengers set to benefit from new contactless payments on Metrolink — Transport for Greater Manchester — “The new system will mean customers can simply touch-in at the start of a journey and touch-out at the end using a contactless bank card or another contactless-enabled payment device, such as a phone or watch. The system will then automatically work out the total daily fare for a customer’s journeys and the price will be capped — to ensure they are paying no more than the relevant adult daily one-day travelcard price.”


What's New in Payments

Shinhan to put credit cards on the blockchain

Shinhan Card develops blockchain-based payment system — The Korea Times — “With the patent-winning technology, the card firm has established a blockchain-powered credit transaction process that enables various functions, such as setting a maximum spending limit, paying in monthly installments and completing payments between merchants and consumers… The company is the first in the world to have established a credit transaction service using the new record-keeping technology, it said.”


What's New in Payments

Turkey unveils plans for a central bank-issued digital currency

Turkey puts central bank digital currency on new economic roadmap — Coin Telegraph — “The government of Turkey has included a central bank-issued digital currency in its 2019–2023 economic roadmap published on July 9… In addition to a central bank digital currency, the development plan lists blockchain adoption in the operations of transportation and customs.”


Samsung partners with Korean banks and carriers to launch blockchain mobile ID platform

Consortium launches blockchain-based digital ID in S Korea — Yonhap News — “A group of major tech companies and financial institutions have joined hands to launch a blockchain-based digital identity platform available on smartphones… Samsung Electronics Co, three mobile carriers — SK Telecom Co, KT Corp and LG Uplus Corp — KEB Hana Bank, Woori Bank and Koscom, an IT subsidiary of the main stock exchange, signed an agreement to jointly develop a mobile application for the digital ID platform.”



NFC World

Amazon rolls out QR-based anti-counterfeiting platform

Amazon launches Transparency in Europe, India and Canada — Amazon — “Transparency is a product serialisation service that provides a unique code for every unit that is manufactured. Brands put these codes on its products and every time one of these products is ordered in Amazon’s stores, Amazon scans and verifies the code to ensure only authentic units reach customers. Additionally, customers can use a mobile app to scan the code and verify authenticity regardless of where they purchased their units. Brands can also use Transparency to communicate unique unit-level information, including manufacturing date, manufacturing place, or other enhanced product information (eg ingredients).”



What's New in Payments

Apple Pay offers free fries at McDonald’s

Latest Apple Pay promotion offers free fries at McDonald’s all month — 9to5Mac — “Apple today has kicked off its latest Apple Pay promotion. This time, users can secure a free order of french fries from McDonald’s when using Apple Pay all month long… Apple has been offering Apple Pay discounts through various retailers, services, and restaurants on a near-weekly basis recently. Recent offers have included US$1 tacos through Taco Bell, US$5 off select Fandango movie ticket purchases, and more.”


What's New in Payments

Merchant payments association calls for 18 month delay on strong customer authentication

EPSM recommends harmonised migration plans on PSD2-SCA — EPSM — “To avoid significant acceptance disruptions, EPSM recommends that all regions should agree an additional timeframe of 18 months for standard applications, as well as up to 36 months for challenging applications, such as those in the travel and hospitality sector. This will deliver an EU-wide harmonised migration approach by the EBA and the 28 national regulators for remote card payments.”


NFC World

Qualcomm to include NFC in entry-level smartphone platform

New Qualcomm 215 Mobile Platform raises the bar for mass market devices — Qualcomm — “The Qualcomm 215 Mobile Platform debuts the following ‘firsts’ in the 2-series: 64-bit CPU, Dual-ISP, supports up to 13MP photo capture​, support for Full HD (1080p) video capture​, support for HD+ resolution display, hexagon DSP for audio and sensor processing​, support for Dual SIM with Dual VoLTE, EVS voice calls​, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, support for NFC payments on Android.”