Mastercard enables luxury shoppers to purchase with confidence — Mastercard — “Consumers will be able to shop the exclusive Rodarte pieces at Fred Segal Sunset with the ability to scan a QR code on the garment’s tag to trace each step of the product journey. Consumers who purchase from Fred Segal’s online store can learn more about the product journey and verify authenticity by scanning the QR code when their package arrives at home.”
USA
Apple Card begins to roll out in the US
The Apple Card starts rolling out today — The Verge — “Apple says a random selection of people who signed up to be notified about the Apple Card will be invited to sign up today… The signup process, which requires iOS 12.4, involves entering your address, birthday, income level and last four digits of your Social Security number. That information is sent to Goldman Sachs, which will approve or decline your application in real time… Once you’ve been approved, your new card will show up in your Apple Wallet immediately.”
Eight in ten US debit card issuers to offer contactless cards next year
Debit payments continue to grow and go digital — Pulse — “The percentage of debit card issuers that say they are interested in offering contactless cards nearly doubled year over year, with 70% planning to issue contactless cards by the end of 2020. Another 10% already issue some contactless debit cards. Only 20% of respondents say they have no plans to offer contactless cards.”
Apple Card to roll out in August?
Apple and Goldman Sachs credit card targeting August launch date — Bloomberg — “The Apple Card is targeted to launch as early as the first half of August… People who own an iPhone will be able to sign up for the card via the Wallet app, which will have built-in Apple Card support as part of the latest iOS 12.4 update.”
Kobelli to use NFC to track diamonds on the blockchain
Diamond jewellery maker Kobelli is to use a blockchain-based NFC platform to provide its customers with a way to securely verify the authenticity of their purchases... More
Researchers to use tiny diamonds to verify authenticity of supply chain components
Dust Identity raises $10m to secure the global supply chain — using diamonds — Fortune — “Its process embeds tiny diamond fragments in a polymer that’s sprayed on a component. As the polymer dries, those diamond fragments are frozen in place, producing a pattern of scattered light that’s irreproducible, because it’s so random and complex — and at least as unique as a fingerprint… Dust Identity claims that, at scale, a single application of its tag can cost as little as one one-thousandth of a cent.”
Giant Eagle trials scan-free self-checkout in US supermarket
US supermarket chain Giant Eagle is piloting a checkout-free shopping and payments system that uses a network of cameras and sensors to let customers enter a store, select and place items in their shopping basket as normal, check out from their mobile phone and then simply walk out of the store... More
LG Pay goes live in the US with NFC and mag stripe mobile payments
LG has launched its LG Pay mobile payments service in the US, enabling owners of its G8 ThinQ smartphone to make payments via NFC in stores equipped with a contactless POS terminal — and in stores with a magnetic stripe terminal using Wireless Magnetic Communication (WMC)... More
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.”
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.”
LG to launch ThinQ mobile wallet in the US?
LG applies for ‘ThinQ Wallet’ crypto wallet trademark in the US — Coin Telegraph — “According to the filing documents, the trademark is for services concerning transaction and settlement services, mobile banking, ‘issuance of cyber money’, and ‘payment application software for mobile phones’ among others. ThinQ is a brand first used for a smart refrigerator introduced by the company in 2011 at a consumer electronics show. Since then, multiple smartphones have been launched under the ThinQ brand.”
Federal Reserve reports on synthetic identity payments fraud
Federal Reserve System white paper examines the effects of synthetic identity payments fraud — FedPayments Improvement — “A synthetic identity is created by using a combination of real information (such as a legitimate Social Security number) with fictional information (which can include a made-up name, address or date of birth)… Over time, fraudsters build up the creditworthiness of the synthetic identity, then ‘bust out’ by purchasing high-value goods and services on credit and disappearing.”
Uber reports on adoption of in-app transit ticketing in Denver
Uber’s move into transit ticketing has resulted in a “strong initial performance” with more than 1,200 Regional Transportation District (RTD) tickets sold through the Uber app since the service launched in Denver in May and growth “averaging 42% each week during the rollout period”... More
Pentagon researchers unveil biometric identification technology that works from 200m away
The Pentagon has a laser that can identify people from a distance — by their heartbeat — MIT Technology Review — “A new device, developed for the Pentagon after US Special Forces requested it, can identify people without seeing their face: instead it detects their unique cardiac signature with an infrared laser. While it works at 200 metres (219 yards), longer distances could be possible with a better laser. ‘I don’t want to say you could do it from space,’ says Steward Remaly, of the Pentagon’s Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office, ‘but longer ranges should be possible.’”
Fiat Chrysler to let drivers order and pay for fuel, food and parking from their vehicles
Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicle owners will be able to use a new Fiat Chrysler mobile wallet to order and pay for a range of services from their vehicles “in the second half of 2019”... More
Bank of America adds instant card issuing to mobile app
Bank of America’s 27 million mobile banking users are now able to request a new or replacement debit card via the app — and instantly receive a digital version of their new card that they can use to start making purchases straight away... More
Eagle Creek lets luggage owners share their stories via NFC
Eagle Creek debuts NFC-connected luggage — Mobile Marketer — “Travellers can see a personalised dashboard that shows all the places they’ve travelled, along [with] a leaderboard that ranks their mileage against the other owners of its line of Caldera luggage. Eagle Creek also provides a lost-and-found feature to help people locate misplaced bags, warranty registration features and detailed product information and videos. Caldera owners also can share information about their trips with their friends, family and followers on major social media platforms.”
US Payments Forum sets out best practices for growing contactless payments adoption
Customer and cashier education, experience and communication at the point of sale (POS) are all key factors that need to be addressed to boost contactless payments adoption in the US and overcome the currently fragmented experience, according to the US Payments Forum... More
Phoenix Suns to provide basketball fans with mobile payments and NFC ticketing at Talking Stick Resort Arena
Arizona-based National Basketball Association (NBA) team the Phoenix Suns are to offer fans access to mobile payments and NFC ticketing from within their mobile app, via a partnership with Ticketmaster, that will see the team move to mobile-only ticketing at its Talking Stick Resort Arena from the start of the 2019/20 season in October... More
HonkMobile launches app-free Apple Pay NFC payments
Parking payments specialist HonkMobile has unveiled a ‘virtual parking meter’ that uses Apple Pay’s new support for NFC tags to let iPhone users tap an NFC sticker to quickly make a payment via Apple Pay — without first needing to download an app or register for a service... More