Japanese consortium to build ‘metaverse economic zone’ where avatars can authorise digital payments

Japanese gamified ‘metaverse economic zone’ graphic

A consortium of Japan-based financial services and technology providers is to develop a ‘metaverse economic zone’ where consumers will be able to create a digital twin or ‘auto learning avatar’, access digital experiences and authorise payments to merchants and service providers with a digital authentication credential or ‘multi magic passport’ (MMP)... More





Balmain adds NFC tags to Pokémon clothing range

French fashion house Balmain clothing with NFC tags

Luxury fashion brand Balmain Paris has added NFC tags to jackets and patches in its Balmain x Pokémon range that enable purchasers to unlock rewards and access an immersive digital experience by tapping the tag with their Apple or Android NFC smartphone... More


Nearly 100m US consumers will be scanning QR codes by 2025

Graph from eMarketer forecasting that nearly 100m US consumers will be scanning QR codes for multiple use cases by 2025

The number of US consumers who use their smartphone to scan QR codes to make contactless payments and for a wide range of other use cases such as scanning codes in print publications, on restaurant menus and in retail outlets will rise from 83.4 million in 2022 to 99.5 million by 2025, according to an Insider Intelligence forecast... More





NFC World

ST white paper explains how brands can use NFC to add value to their products

Front cover of ST Microelectronics White Paper on how NFC can add value to your brand

KNOWLEDGE CENTRE: NFC can be used to add value to an array of products that combine a main unit with a range of accessories or consumables, such as coffee machines and power tools, and to a wide variety of devices that are shared among multiple users, such as gym and laboratory equipment, ST explains in a new white paper available to download from the NFCW Knowledge Centre... More








What's New in Payments

Societe Generale lets cardholders add personalized bank cards to Apple Pay

Societe Generale brings personalized credit and debit cards to Apple Pay — Societe Generale — “Societe Generale offers over 180 personalised physical cards, but this marks the first time customers will see the exact same card as they have in their wallet in Apple Pay. ‘With Apple Pay’s personalisation mirroring our cards’ personalisation, we are demonstrating continuity between our digital and our physical products,’ said Julien Claudon, head of card and digital payment.”