EU begins work on digital visas for Schengen visitors

Sweden’s Minister for Migration Maria Malmer Stenergard

The European Union is to begin negotiating a proposal to enable travellers who require a visa to transit through — or make a short stay in countries within — the border-free Schengen area of Europe to apply for and store a digital version of the credential on their smartphone... More



Royal Mail adds 2D barcodes to postage stamps

Royal Mail first class postage stamp with QR code

Royal Mail is adding 2D barcodes to UK postage stamps that link each stamp to its digital twin and will “facilitate operational facilities, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers,” the postal service says... More



What's New in Payments

Target adds mobile payments, coupons and rewards to mobile app

Target launches Wallet in the Target app: A faster, easier way to pay and save — Target — “With Wallet, guests can pay using their Target REDcard and save with Cartwheel — all in a single scan of their phones at checkout… Wallet combines digital savings — Cartwheel offers and Weekly Ad coupons — with the 5% REDcard discount. And, coming soon, guests also will be able to store and redeem Target GiftCards with Wallet.”



What's New in Payments

WeChat offers payments in stores

Tencent’s instant messaging app WeChat can now be used to make payments in the retail stores of nine Chinese merchants including DQ Ice Queen, NUS Pharmacy, Rainbow, One Plus One, Lotus, Good Neighbours, Baby Room, Minsheng Department Store and NUS 365, according to Iamwire... More



NFC World

Adlink launches B2B NFC phone

Adlink IMX 2000

Taiwan-based technology manufacturer Adlink has released an NFC phone and “industrial mobile handheld device” aimed at automatic identification and data capture applications that includes a 1D laser or 2D camera-based barcode scanner, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS... More



NFC World

USPS offers NFC discounts

The US Postal Service is offering marketers a 2% discount if they incorporate NFC, 2D barcodes or augmented reality in their direct mail campaigns between August 1 and September 30, reports Direct Marketing News... More







NFC World

Auchan picks mobile barcodes for France’s MCX

Flash'n Pay

“Our goal is to create the m-payment standard within the retail sector, independent of any telephone operators and banks,” says the head of Flash’n Pay, a new mobile wallet brand that has been created by one of the country’s largest grocery retailers and is set to go head to head with the French carriers’ NFC-based Cityzi service. More




NFC World

Isis releases video tutorials

Isis

The US NFC payments venture has produced a series of educational videos, designed to show consumers how to use the Isis Mobile Wallet in stores and how to add cards and offers, as it moves towards pilot launches in Austin and Salt Lake City. More