American Express goes mobile-first with its new millennial-facing credit card — IT Business Canada — “According to AmEx director of new product development Laura Cocksedge, the card was designed start to finish as a mobile-first experience, with users able to use the Cobalt’s accompanying app to register for the card, verify their identities, track their spending, and use it with mobile payment platforms including Apple Pay, Android Pay, and American Express’s own AmEx Pay.”
Apple Pay
Apple publishes Face ID security white paper
Face ID Security — Apple — “To authorize an in-store payment with Face ID, you must first confirm intent to pay by double-clicking the side button. You then authenticate using Face ID before placing your iPhone X near the contactless payment reader. If you’d like to select a different Apple Pay payment method after Face ID authentication, you’ll need to reauthenticate, but you won’t have to double-click the side button again.”
Starbucks lets customers reload their cards with their Apple Watch
Starbucks now lets you reload store cards with Apple Pay on Apple Watch — 9to5Mac — “Starting today you can reload your Starbucks Card using Apple Pay right on the Apple Watch. Paying with your Starbucks Card was previously supported but… reloading required using the iPhone app.”
New iPhones and Apple Watch to support NFC-F for FeliCa payments around the world
Global FeliCa for iPhone 8, iPhone X, Apple Watch Series 3 — Ata Distance — “Though Apple is very low key about global NFC-F support, FeliCa systems outside of Japan, such as Hong Kong’s MTR system and Octopus Card, and Singapore’s EZ-Link will be able to add Apple Pay Suica-like services… It also means that ‘inbound’ visitors to Japan can add Apple Pay Suica with the new devices.”
Rambus publishes quick guide to Apple Pay
A newly updated 12-page primer that quickly explains how Apple’s NFC-based mobile payment system works in clear and simple language is now available to download from the NFC World Knowledge Centre... More
Banks back government-led Taiwan Pay QR payments service
Banks offer ministry’s Taiwan Pay services — Taipei Times — “Taiwan Pay aims to provide more convenient, quicker payment services using QR code technology via smartphones, which have become a necessity in daily life,” deputy minister of finance Su Jain-rong told a news conference… The ministry spearheaded the development of Taiwan Pay to help the nation become a regional technology hub and to compete with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay.”
Apple Pay Cash to go live in iOS update ‘this fall’
iOS 11 is available tomorrow — Apple — “Coming this fall with an update to iOS 11 and watchOS 4, Apple Pay users will be able to send and receive money from friends and family quickly, easily and securely. Pay and get paid right in Messages, or tell Siri to pay someone, using the credit and debit cards they have in Wallet. When users get paid, they receive the money in their new Apple Pay Cash card in Apple Wallet and can use the money instantly.”
Apple Pay to launch in UAE with support of six banks
Pay with your iPhone in UAE before end of the year — Gulf News — “The American tech giant confirmed on Wednesday that Apple Pay is scheduled to roll out in the UAE before the end of the year and will be made available to debit and credit card customers of Emirates NBD, Mashreq, HSBC, RakBank, Standard Chartered and Emirates Islamic.”
Apple demos Face ID on iPhone X
The new, tenth anniversary iPhone X will not include support for Touch ID and owners will instead use a combination of face recognition and a double click of an enlarged side button to make Apple Pay purchases, the iPhone maker has revealed... More
Apple launches Watch Series 3 with electronic SIM and tap-to-connect GymKit support
The latest edition of the Apple Watch will come with a version that includes built-in support for cellular communications, enabled via a built-in “electronic SIM”, Apple COO Jeff Williams has revealed... More
Apple to ship iOS 11 with NFC tag reading support on 19 September
Apple has revealed that it will ship iOS 11 on 19 September 2017, bringing with it the ability for iPhones to read NFC tags for the first time... More
Irish bank’s new app lets customers open account and start making mobile payments in just five minutes
KBC launch new app to revolutionise account openings — KBC Bank Ireland — “KBC’s app is the first of its kind, and works by allowing customers to open, activate and use their bank account at any time, within just five minutes… Apple or Android Pay is ready to use with the account immediately.”
Singapore to add mobile options to contactless transit payments trial
Parliament: Cashless trial for public transport to be extended to more payment types from next year — The Straits Times — “A trial system that allows commuters to pay their public transport fares using contactless credit or debit cards will be extended to more payment types including Visa and Nets 2.0 from next June (2018). Mobile payment modes — such as Android Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay — will also be available from the first quarter of next year as part of the trial.”
Emerging markets top mobile payments awareness index
More than half of consumers around the world (52%) now say they know which types of mobile payment services are available to them today, but the percentage varies widely between individual countries and across different regions and consumers in emerging markets are significantly more aware of their options than those in the developed world... More
Apple Pay Cash coming to Europe
Apple Pay Cash coming to Europe — LetsGoDigital — “Apple has filed a trademark application at the European Intellectual Property Office for Apple Pay Cash. The application is still under examination, but reveals Apple is planning to bring its advanced mobile payment service to Europe.”
Apple accepts WeChat Pay in bid to reverse sales decline
Apple accepts WeChat Pay in bid to reverse sales decline — China Daily — “Apple said it is ‘excited’ to introduce Chinese customers using WeChat Pay to purchase apps or subscribe to Apple Music, and will continue to offer payment options that are simple and convenient…. It previously supported credit card transactions, its indigenous Apple Pay, China’s UnionPay, and Alipay, WeChat Pay’s biggest rival.”
Face ID described as iPhone 8’s ‘crown jewel’, unlocking device in ‘a few hundred milliseconds’
Face ID described as iPhone 8’s ‘crown jewel’, unlocking device in ‘a few hundred milliseconds’ — MacRumours — “The front-facing 3D sensor on Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8 will be the device’s ‘crown jewel’, able to unlock the iPhone 8 in a ‘few hundred milliseconds’ to give users quick access to their smartphone and quickly authenticate Apple Pay purchases.”
NFC mobile payments ‘shake off the novelty tag’ in the UK
British consumers used their mobile phones to spend more than £370m (US$477m) in stores equipped with contactless payments terminals during the first half of 2017, an increase of 336% on the amount spent during the first half of 2016, transaction data analysis conducted by payments processor Worldpay has found... More
Mobile payment usage ‘remains low’, US debit card study finds
“Combined, Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay account for only about one quarter of 1% of US debit transactions,” the annual Debit Issuer Study from debit and ATM network Pulse has found, while the country’s move to EMV chip cards has cut debit card fraud loss rates but “fraud continues to challenge issuers.”... More
Green Dot CEO sets out how Apple Pay Cash will work
Prepaid card provider Green Dot “will perform several roles” for Apple when the iPhone maker launches its P2P payments and Apple Pay Cash services in the US in September, Green Dot CEO Steven Streit has revealed during the company’s Q2 2017 earnings call... More