US consumers can now place orders from coffee giant Starbucks by speaking into the Starbucks iOS mobile app or to Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa. The move comes as the company reveals that mobile orders made up 7% of all its US transactions in the last quarter, with mobile payments now accounting for 27%. More
iOS
Google brings HCE payments to Android Wear 2.0
Google is adding support for host card emulation (HCE) based NFC payments to smartwatches in Android Wear 2.0, the new version of its operating system for smartwatches which is scheduled to be released in early February 2017... More
Boon launches in France for Apple Pay users
France has become the first eurozone country in which consumers with iOS devices can use Wirecard’s Boon service to make purchases with Apple Pay, by adding a virtual Boon card to the mobile payment service... More
More US firms offer Apple Pay
US airline United Airlines, domain name provider GoDaddy and donation platform Causemo are among the latest businesses offering Apple Pay, Apple Insider reports... More
Covent Garden offers augmented reality gift for Christmas shoppers
London’s Covent Garden shopping district is showcasing what it claims to be the largest showcase of augmented reality (AR) technology attempted in one location, with Christmas shoppers offered exclusive offers, gift guides and immersive shopping experiences... More
Airport launches Android app to deliver offers via iBeacon
Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Qatar has launched an Android version of its mobile app, which uses iBeacon technology to deliver passengers information about special offers at retail outlets, as well as real-time details on flights, baggage claim and location-based services... More
Google Maps update enables food ordering from app
An update to Google Maps on iOS allows users to order food from their favourite restaurants directly from the app... More
Azimo adds Siri money transfers
Users of the Azimo money transfer service can now send money through Apple’s voice-activated Siri system... More
Australian banks call Apple’s NFC restriction “completely baseless”
Apple’s claim that allowing access to the NFC technology within its iPhones would diminish the security of Apple Pay has been branded “completely baseless” by a group of four Australian banks, who are seeking greater powers of negotiation over the entry of third-party mobile wallets in the country... More
Valeo and Gemalto launch mobile car keys for Bluetooth access
PARTNER NEWS: Drivers will soon be able to use their smartphone or connected watch to lock or unlock their car, start it, control applications and remotely access useful vehicle information using Bluetooth technology and automotive products supplier Valeo’s new virtual car key system... More
Mobiquity Wallet brings iOS voice command money transfers
PARTNER NEWS: Customers using mobile financial solutions firm Mahindra Comviva’s Mobiquity Wallet for iOS will now be able to send and request payments via a straightforward voice command. The feature forms part of the latest version of the digital wallet platform that leverages Apple’s iOS 10 operating system... More
Smartphone cases get bPay to enable NFC mobile payments
Smartphone case manufacturer Case Station has integrated Barclaycard’s bPay contactless payment technology into its new range to allow consumers to make NFC mobile purchases with a tap of their handset at any contactless terminal... More
FeliCa NFC technology confirmed for Apple Pay in Japan
Apple has confirmed that its new flagship smartphones — the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus — and the second generation Apple Watch will be equipped with Sony FeliCa NFC technology... More
Wirecard eases Alipay acceptance in Europe
German technology provider Wirecard has launched an app allowing European retailers to accept Alipay QR code mobile payments from Chinese tourists... More
Sharp rise for Apple Pay and Android Pay
Online and in-app purchases made via Apple Pay and Android Pay will reach US$8bn in 2018, up from $540m this year, Juniper Research predicts... More
US pharmacy chain launches barcode payments
Customers at US pharmacy chain CVS can now make purchases by presenting an on-screen barcode at the point of sale using CVS Pay, the retailer’s own mobile payment service... More
Walmart Pay completes nationwide rollout
US supermarket giant Walmart has completed its nationwide rollout of Walmart Pay, making the service available in more than 4,600 stores across the country. The retailer has also recorded a 45% increase in Walmart Pay transactions in the last week. More
Retailers reward in-app Apple Pay purchases
US retailers are offering discounts on in-app purchases made through Apple Pay until September as part of a recently launched iOS App Store promotion... More
Samsung Pay Mini to launch on iOS
The Samsung Pay Mini online payments app expected to go live in South Korea this month will be compatible with Apple devices as well as Android smartphones, according to ETNews... More