UnionPay mobile QuickPass QR code payment landed in Hong Kong and Singapore — UnionPay International — “After UnionPay mobile QuickPass QR code payment was launched on May 27 in mainland China, UnionPay International announced today to extend this service to Hong Kong and Singapore… The newly launched QR code payment is a significant supplement to NFC payment.”
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Digital India: UPI-based transactions grew more than 20 times since demonetization
Digital India: UPI-based transactions grew more than 20 times since demonetization — BGR — “UPI is now one of the most widely used mobile payments systems, and could reach 100 million users in a few years… UPI’s monthly transaction value shot up from $15 million before November 8 to $359 million by the end of the financial year (March 2017).”
At Alibaba, artificial intelligence is changing how people shop online
At Alibaba, artificial intelligence is changing how people shop online — Alizila — “Alibaba is spreading artificial intelligence throughout its core e-commerce operations, making it a cornerstone technology to speed the arrival of what company officials envision to be the future of not only e-commerce, but all commerce.”
SA scientists develop next-gen digital ID tech
SA scientists develop next-gen digital ID tech — IT Web — “The technology, dubbed aiDX, is an advanced identification technology that uses deep science to simulate human cognition in order to confirm or determine the identity of a person to industrial grade standards on any smartphone or device equipped with a camera.”
Makati launches digital payments card for gov’t transactions, purchases
Makati launches digital payments card for gov’t transactions, purchases — Rappler — “The Makatizen Card, launched by the city government in partnership with Globe and iBayad, functions as an ATM card and a valid government ID… It comes with a near-field communication (NFC) feature that allows city offices equipped with iBayad machine readers to verify the identity of residents and city government employees.”
QR codes make late entry into under-banked Cambodia
QR codes make late entry into under-banked Cambodia — The Phnom Penh Post — “The technology remains relatively unknown in Cambodia but several players in the financial sector are looking to transform the payment market by introducing Cambodia’s young and technology savvy population to QR code applications.”
Lotte Card introduces ‘pay with your palm’
Lotte Card introduces ‘pay with your palm’ — Korea JoongAng Daily — “Lotte Card’s Hand Pay allows customers to pay using an individual’s distinct vein pattern on the palm as identification… Hand Pay maximizes convenience when paying because customers do not need credit cards or even smartphones.”
Euro Banking Association paper analyses cryptotechnologies in international payments
Euro Banking Association paper analyses cryptotechnologies in international payments — Euro Banking Association — “Our information paper shows how this technology could support industry players in meeting user expectations regarding speed, transparency and cost. We strongly believe that collaborative initiatives in this area, in particular, could unlock significant value for payment service providers and their customers.”
Mobile wallet Curve launches ‘time travel’ tool to let you ‘shop in the past’
Mobile wallet Curve launches ‘time travel’ tool to let you ‘shop in the past’ — Wired — “Once a person’s cards are uploaded to the Curve platform, they are all stored on a single Curve card. When shopping, they can then choose which account they would like to shop with using an app. If they change their mind, for example if they paid using a credit card but meant to pay with a debit card, the time travel tool lets them go back and swap.”
Iowa smartphone driver’s licenses expected to launch in 2018
Iowa smartphone driver’s licenses expected to launch in 2018 — The Des Moines Register — “Iowans should be able to start downloading their driver’s licenses onto smartphones in about 12 to 18 months, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.”
Control Ikea Home Smart products with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Home app
Control Ikea Home Smart products with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Home app — Ikea — “Ikea is adding functionality to its smart lighting range by enabling people to voice control their lighting with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and to set up and adjust lighting using Apple’s Home app and Siri voice commands. This takes Ikea one step closer to making smart home technology accessible for the many.”
NEC earbuds showcase hands-free biometric verification
NEC earbuds showcase hands-free biometric verification — New Atlas — “The new prototype earbuds are an application of NEC’s “hearable device user authentication technology”… NEC says the technology can identify the user within one second and with “greater than 99% accuracy”. Unlike biometrics based on the iris recognition or fingerprints, you don’t need to hold or look at your phone to use it.”
Hackers defeat Samsung Galaxy S8 iris scanner
Hackers defeat Samsung Galaxy S8 iris scanner — Security Week — “Hackers of the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) in Germany have managed to defeat the iris recognition system on Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S8 smartphones… While an individual’s iris is unique, researchers from CCC showed that Samsung’s iris scanner can be defeated by showing it a picture of the victim’s eye.”
Apple Pay violates patents held by security technology inventor, lawsuit alleges
Apple Pay violates patents held by security technology inventor, lawsuit alleges — The New York Times — “A small Boston company, founded by the inventor of a popular corporate encryption technology called RSA SecurID, sued Apple and Visa on Sunday, arguing that the Apple Pay digital payment technology violates its patents.”
Researchers create a T-shirt that monitors the wearer’s breathing rate in real time
Researchers create a T-shirt that monitors the wearer’s breathing rate in real time — Université Laval — “The key to the smart T-shirt is an antenna sewn in at chest level that’s made of a hollow optical fiber coated with a thin layer of silver on its inner surface. The fiber’s exterior surface is covered in a polymer that protects it against the environment… As the wearer breathes in, the smart fiber senses the increase in both thorax circumference and the volume of air in the lungs… These changes modify some of the resonant frequency of the antenna.”
Tipping point for Apple Pay as majority of UK tills accept limitless payments
Tipping point for Apple Pay as majority of UK tills accept limitless payments — The Telegraph — “Jennifer Bailey, the head of Apple’s payments business, said over half of contactless payment terminals in the UK are now able to take Apple Pay transactions of any value. The company says Apple Pay transactions in the UK have grown by 300pc in the last year, with 23 banks now supporting the service.”
Jailbreak developer hacks NFC on iPhone 6S to talk to NFC devices
Jailbreak developer hacks NFC on iPhone 6S to talk to NFC devices — 9to5Mac — “In a brief video, the well-known developer showcases a jailbroken iPhone 6S interacting with an NFC-enabled tag. The phone promptly responds to the presence of the tag with a notification identifying the tag.”
Govt eyes private sector access to national facial recognition service
Govt eyes private sector access to national facial recognition service — Computerworld Australia — “Within the Attorney-General’s Department there’s a view that private sector access to the government’s national facial recognition system would represent a ‘natural progression’ of its development. Andrew Rice, AGD assistant secretary, Cyber and Identity Security Branch, today said that there would be proof of concept opportunities for private sector access to the system in FY17-18.”
Android O will focus on ‘vitals’ like battery life and speed, first beta launches today
Android O will focus on ‘vitals’ like battery life and speed, first beta launches today — The Verge — “For security, Google is introducing a new feature called Google Play Protect. Google already scans apps in the Play Store to make sure they aren’t malicious, but now it’s going to make that more visible by showing that your phone’s apps have recently been scanned when you’re in the Store.”
Square will replace meters in Washington taxis
Square will replace meters in Washington taxis — Bloomberg — “The overhaul of the city’s cab system will help drivers compete with Uber… By the end of August, all of the taxis in Washington have to tear out their traditional meters and start using smartphones or tablets, in what the city government has been describing as a complete reimagining of how the cab system works.”