Posts Tagged mobile payments
SD Association adds secure NFC support to its smartSD memory cards
Though companies like Visa and Device Fidelity have already come up with a way to make NFC payments via microSD card, the SD Association (the standardization body for SD cards) has introduced a spec that opens up that ability to others. It essentially adds the single wire protocol (SWP) as a Secure Element to enable NFC authorizations like mobile payments and identity verification. Now that any of its members can implement the standard to their microSD cards, perhaps some day we can truly replace our wallets with our phones. We’ve included the press release and a short video demo after the break if you feel like understanding the tech a little better.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
FTC report on mobile payments raises concerns about ‘cramming’ on carrier billing
The FTC held a workshop on mobile payments last year, and it’s now followed that up with a full report that raises a few concerns and offers some recommendations for the industry. Those include the expected issues of privacy and security, which the FTC encourages companies to step up their efforts on, as well as the issue of billing disputes. On that latter front, the FTC draws attention to one problem in particular known as “cramming,” in which companies or individuals place fraudulent charges on a user’s cellphone bill. As the FTC notes in the report, “there are no federal statutory protections governing consumer disputes about fraudulent or unauthorized charges placed on mobile carrier bills,” and it further adds in a blog post that “the way mobile carrier billing works makes this a challenging problem to solve.” It goes on to outline some consumer protection measures it says all carriers should adopt, and notes that it will further address the issue at a roundtable on May 8th. You can find the full report at the source link.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: FTC report (PDF), FTC, FTC Business Center Blog
Bump app now allows transfers of any file between phone and computer
We’ve seen the Bump app evolve from just a way to transfer contacts to a version that allows for mobile payments and one that lets you share photos between your phone and your computer. Now the company has expanded its feature set to transferring files of all kinds, be they photos, videos or Word documents. Simply enable the location feature in your browser, tap the files you want to move over, slap that spacebar button with your phone and the files will be on their way. They’ll actually head over to Bump’s servers and not your desktop, but you can still easily download them if you so choose. The updated app is available on iOS and Android today, so you can start bumping your files over right now.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Bump
Using NFC and not even thinking about mobile payments
The title of this post may be a bit of a stretch. Truth be told, I do like the idea of mobile payments, specifically Google Wallet. But in my case, Verizon isn’t playing nicely so that sort of rules that option out. Truthfully though, NFC is about much more than mobile payments. In fact, I would argue that even if I had Google Wallet on my Galaxy S III, that would probably be the least used NFC related feature.
You see, mobile payments may attract quite a bit of the NFC related attention, however there are plenty of other use cases. For this post, I will concentrate on two — sharing of files and automation. More specifically, sharing using S Beam and automation using TecTiles. There are other options available, especially in the form of NFC tags, however given I use a Samsung device — that is where my experience comes from. Not to mention, given the recent reports telling us how popular Samsung is at the moment, we suspect more than a few others have Galaxy devices in hand.
Beginning first with the sharing. You may remember some Samsung commercials touting this feature. They seemed silly and sort of cheesy at the time, but after putting that to use — it has proved wonderful. This one is rather simple, assuming both devices have the NFC and S Beam setting turned on — open the file you want to share, hold the two phones together and then “touch to beam.” Personally, this comes in handy for sharing everything from music or video files to images and even links. Sure, you can always email files, however once you are familiar with this method of sharing, sending an email to a person sitting in the same room will feel silly.
The other item is the automation, something that I am more than a bit obsessed with. I want features on or off depending on where I happen to be at the moment. What better way to get those settings adjusted than to do it with fewer taps. I should point out that I also use a few other apps for this, one called Silence and one called Atooma. Those aside, the Samsung TecTiles work wonders. I have a tile on the light switch in my office. This one is pretty simple, it will make sure my phone is on vibrate so I am not disturbed with a ringing phone while working. I also use a tile in my car. This one does three things, it turns my Bluetooth on, turns my Wi-Fi off and launches Slacker. All items that I want and/or need in the car.
Of course, sharing and automation are just two examples of what can be done. The moral of the story is that if you happen to think of NFC as only being associated with mobile payments, you may want to give it another thought. We are also a bit curious, is anyone using NFC on a regular basis? If so, what are your use cases?
FIS acquires mobile banking guru mFoundry for $120 million
You may not be very familiar with mFoundry’s name, but you’ll probably know its work if you’re reading this site: it’s part of a deal with MasterCard for NFC-based mobile payments, powers many banking apps and wrote the earliest mobile app code for Starbucks. As such, it’s no small deal that payment giant FIS just bought full control of mFoundry for $120 million. FIS isn’t shy about its aims and sees mFoundry as the ticket to covering a mobile banking space that’s growing quicker than other fields. Not that mFoundry will necessarily feel like a pawn — its audience potentially grows to the 14,000 banks that FIS has for customers. We’ll just need to wait until after the deal closes later in the current quarter to see what the union will bring.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Source: TechCrunch
Groupon Merchants update brings mobile credit card transactions to Android
With entities like Square and Paypal taking over the mobile payments scene it’s hard for new competitors to break in, but Groupon is looking to improve its chances by bringing Groupon Payments to its Groupon Merchants app for Android. The service allows merchants to accept credit card payments in an easy and secure fashion through the use of a 3.5mm-based card swiper.
The service can be activated within a matter of minutes via your Android device, and aside from the big feature discussed above users can also look forward to improved analytic data, namely the ability to view live transaction history, check daily sales reports, track deposits to external bank accounts and analyze revenue trends.
Groupon Merchants users are subject to a charge of 15 cents plus 1.8% (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) or 3% (American Express) of the bill for each transaction made, standard rates for a service like this. You’ll be paying for the convenience of being able to accept payments with a mobile device, something that’s oft-desired for many different types of businesses (food truck owners, rejoice!).
Of course, as we mentioned before, Square and PayPal offer competitive rates and advantages of their own so if you haven’t already settled on a service then these three are worth putting head to head in order to carefully scrutinize the advantages and disadvantages of each. Head here for more information on Groupon Merchants and see if it’s right for you and your needs. Read on for full press details.
Groupon Releases Updated Groupon Merchants App for Android, v2.2, with Groupon Payments
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Today Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) announced the release of the newest version of the Groupon Merchants app for Android (v2.2), which incorporates Groupon Payments into the platform, offering merchants a better way to accept credit cards at the guaranteed lowest overall rates. Groupon merchants with Android devices who sign up for Groupon Payments will enjoy a fast, intuitive experience capable of fulfilling their everyday credit card processing needs.
Groupon merchants with Android devices may now enjoy the following benefits:
•Hassle-Free Enrollment – Activate the service within minutes
•Comprehensive Features – Use the Groupon Merchants app to enter bill totals, add tips, apply taxes, process refunds and email customer receipts
•Dependable Service – Backed 7-days-a-week by a dedicated Groupon Payments support team reachable by phone and email
•Security – Encrypted credit card information keeps customer data safe
•Analytics – Payments information is seamlessly available through the online Payments Center where merchants can view live transaction history, check daily sales reports, track deposits to their bank account and analyze revenue trends
•ROI Tracking – Groupon Merchants can scan and redeem customer Groupons and monitor tips and additional spending to track the success of their deal“We’re thrilled to bring the powerful features of the Groupon Merchants app and the cost savings and convenience of Groupon Payments to more merchants with smart phones,” said Gene Alston, General Manager of Groupon Payments. “This app is an effective tool for merchants looking to process payments and track customer growth.”
Merchants interested in learning more about Groupon Payments can visit https://www.grouponworks.com/merchant-solutions/payments or call (888) 961-1511 to speak with a representative. The Groupon Merchants app is available for download in the Google Play Shop. Merchants with iPhones can download the Groupon Merchants app in the iPhone App Store.
The guarantee of lowest possible rates is only available to Groupon merchants located in the United States. Merchants must provide proof of current third-party rates for identical services. Participation is subject to the terms of the Groupon Payments Merchant User Agreement, which may modify or discontinue the guarantee and the underlying services at any time. The guarantee is void where prohibited by law.
Payment processor Bango bringing carrier billing to Google Play
Bango, a mobile payments and analytics company, works with carriers (and other companies) as a middle-man to help set up payment systems and has now started offering Google Play billing as well. Carrier billing for items on Google Play is something that many carriers around the world are looking to get involved with. It's not always practical (or profitable) at the start to get it set up, however. Effectively outsourcing the payment processing and setup to another company makes sense for many companies out there trying to get into this game.
The first carrier on board with Bango for their mobile payments is Telstra in Australia. Given some of the big names that Bango currently does business with, we could see more carriers rolling out Google Play carrier billing with them soon. You can check out the full press release after the break.
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That New Square-like Box in Your Notification Bar is the NFC Icon
NFC chips are pretty standard these days in smartphones, unless you own a device that begins with a lowercase “i.” As far as we are concerned, NFC is the future of sharing and mobile payments, two things we care deeply about as mobile enthusiasts. For the most part, phones come with NFC disabled until you [...]
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Researchers predict 2 billion NFC-enabled smartphones will be shipped by 2017
Earlier this year, we have heard a lot of news suggesting companies like Google, Microsoft and Apple are diving headfirst into mobile payment system. The apparent reason for this is because this sector is predicted to become a multi-billion dollar industry by year 2016. It wouldn’t be a surprise if I tell that smartphones would be the fuel for the growth of this industry; without smartphones, there wouldn’t be mobile payment system, obviously.
Most recent predictions suggest that by 2017, at least, 2 billion smartphones are capable of doing NFC transactions including mobile payments. Research firm, ABI Research, predicted earlier this year that an estimated 80 million NFC-enabled smartphones would be shipped this year. But it raised the bar to 120 million after surveys revealed that 9 out of 10 OEMs manufacture devices that support Near Field Communication technology.
ABI Research believes in 2013, NFC enablement will get out of “trial phase” and would be ready for full-blown services. While many would think NFC’s main function is to power mobile payment systems, they’re partially wrong. There are more services near-field communication technology can offer than just mobile payment, however, it is the latter that majority of big companies are into right now.
“NFC inclusion into devices other than handsets shows market development and an understanding that NFC will be more than payments. Added value will be provided through the enablement of convenient online/offline authentication, retail and loyalty applications, reader functionality, AFC, and advertising as a host of value added opportunities presented to service providers from which they can draw new revenue streams,” ABI Research said in a post on website.
Furthermore, Google and Microsoft are two of the few companies that are aggressively pursuing the leadership in the technology but it seems the latter has the upper hand. While Apple said it would also be engaging into the mobile payment system, it wants to let its competitor do the research before it releases its own system minus the problems.
[source: ABI Research]
Vodafone and Visa announce mobile payments app for Android-toting Aussies
Sometime next year, Vodafone subscribers in Australia can expect to taste the sweet fruit of mobile payments, which comes thanks to the carrier’s partnership with Visa. Computerworld Australia reports that Vodafone SmartPass is currently being tested on Android phones in the land down under, which relies on an NFC-enabled SIM card. It’s also said that the carrier plans to introduce a Windows Phone app, although it has no intention of developing a solution for iOS, which is due to the iPhone’s lack of NFC. While mobile payments still remains a mere pipe dream for many, it’s said that Vodafone will eventually bundle the SmartPass app on all smartphones that support NFC. Unfortunately, the technology may remain cumbersome, as it’ll require users to load currency into a prepaid account for use — something Google has already kicked to the curb. If you’ll recall, Vodafone first announced its initiative with Visa in February of this year, although at the time, it was said that only a few European counties would make the initial cut. To learn more about what Vodafone has in store for its Aussie constituency, feel free to hit up the source link.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Software, Mobile
Via: WMPoweruser
Source: Computerworld Australia
CIBC Mobile Payment App reaches BlackBerry App World for the rare chance you can actually use it
Rogers kicked off Canadian NFC mobile payments at the start of the month through what was mostly a ceremonial gesture — until the CIBC app arrived, locals simply had to wait. It’s at last time try some Suretap mobile shopping now that the CIBC Mobile Payment App has popped up in BlackBerry App World. As promised, the title will let Canucks tap to pay with a credit card (up to $50 at once) at the 17 store chains offering use of a MasterCard PayPass or Visa PayWave terminal. The catch remains the sheer number of conditions that need to be in place: on top of requiring an NFC-aware SIM card, a CIBC credit card and the right stores, the early software only works its magic with the BlackBerry Bold 9900; Curve 9380 support depends on a future update. Having the crucial app is still a step forward, and the handful of trailblazers can always recount tales of buying Timbits with their Bolds while those on other platforms have to sit tight until 2013.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, RIM
CIBC Mobile Payment App reaches BlackBerry App World for the rare chance you can actually use it originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Nov 2012 03:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google Revamps How You Use Google Wallet on Mobile Websites
After yesterday’s excitement about a possible physical Google Wallet card, it’s becoming more obvious by the day that Google is taking mobile payments seriously. To make Google Wallet an overall better experience, they are revamping how Wallet works on mobile websites, which has never been a good experience up until now. Google has added in a button that [...]
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Rogers and CIBC kick off Canadian NFC-based mobile payments with mini event (update: full details)
Rogers and its banking partner CIBC have been making much ado over bringing NFC mobile payments to Canada since the spring, but the companies have been mostly silent on actual availability and let a rumored October 15th launch date pass by without fanfare. The two partners are at last ready to swing into action, at least symbolically — a photo-op at a Tim Hortons in Toronto on Friday will officially represent the first instance of their payment system being used in the wild. What we’ve seen officially and otherwise hasn’t changed, which means that event star and triathlete Simon Whitfield will be using one of two NFC-equipped BlackBerry phones with a special SIM card while he buys a meal that we imagine involves coffee and maple-glazed donuts. Rogers hasn’t said how soon the less sporty among us will be making payments, although the limited choices of phones (two) and carriers (one) will only give a handful of Canucks a chance to join in.
Update: Just as Whitfield’s coffee is cooling off, Rogers has given out full details: the CIBC mobile payment option will roll out later in the month to at least 2,300 Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada, with 3,000 more joining in by December. It’s called Suretap, as the earlier leak confirmed, and there’s no surprise support for Android, Windows Phone or other platforms.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, RIM
Rogers and CIBC kick off Canadian NFC-based mobile payments with mini event (update: full details) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink CrackBerry, MobileSyrup | Canada Newswire, Rogers | Email this | Comments
Square mobile payment service comes to Canada
Square's mobile point of purchase system has expanded beyond the U.S. into Canada today, marking their first step into international markets. Though Square didn't advertise any particular launch partners up north, they do have free headphone jack fobs available for small businesses to start accepting credit card payments on whatever Android devices they happen to be using. Transaction fees are 2.75% per MasterCard or Visa swipe, which is apparently pretty competitive.
Unfortunately, Square Wallet isn't available to Canada just yet, but will be arriving in 2013. The app will enable users to pay for goods, use loyalty cards, get receipts, and leave reviews for businesses. Although Square tends to be lumped in with iOS, their Android app has been available for a couple of years now. I'm interested in seeing if Square hops on the NFC bandwagon at some point, but for the time being, I'm sure they do reasonably well just dealing with Visa and Mastercard. It would be great to see some Interac support eventually, too.
Hey Americans, how often do you see Square in use in businesses? Should we feel screwed that Square Wallet isn't available right out of the gate? Keep in mind that we still don't have Google Wallet up here, or even anything like Isis, so this may be the best thing we can get for mobile payments for the immediate future. Any Canadian business owners interested in giving this a shot? You can sign up over here.
Soruce: Square
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Isis arrives in Salt Lake City and Austin
If you’ve been closely watching the development of Isis Mobile Wallet, you’ll be pleased to know that the service launched in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Austin, Texas today. Even better is the news that nine handsets are supporting Isis from the start, so you’ve got some options when it comes to picking an Isis-ready phone. Since Isis is a team up between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, all you need to do is stop in at one of their stores and pick up your Isis-supported handset (provided you live in Salt Lake City or Austin, of course).
Along with the nine Isis-supported handsets that are available today, 11 more should be launching in next couple of months, meaning that there will be 20 Isis-ready phones by the end of the year. That certainly isn’t bad, and it shows that the people behind Isis are serious about getting the service supported. They’re going to need that support too, as Isis will be going head-to-head with Google Wallet.
Of course, the fact that your phone supports Isis doesn’t much matter if there aren’t any retailers that actually let you pay with the service. Luckily, the announcement today claims that there are “hundreds” of locations around Austin and Salt Lake City that are ready to accept your Isis payment – a full list of retailers can be found at the official Isis site. Isis will work with your American Express, Capital One, or Chase credit cards, and you’ll even get a $10 Isis card when you activate your wallet. You’ll get another $15 on the house when you make the Isis card reloadable (presumably by putting more money on it).
The Isis launch will definitely be exciting for some, but so far, mobile payments are having a hard time winning over consumers. Perhaps with this Isis push and the “rise” of Google Wallet, more consumers will begin adopting mobile as a way to pay for their purchases? We personally love the idea, but we’ll have to wait and see if it takes off with mainstream consumers. Stay tuned.
Story Timeline
- Isis, Google Wallet competitor, to run on Android
- T-Mobile Galaxy S II update brings Isis support to battle Google Wallet
- T-Mobile explains what it will do with Isis NFC capabilities
- Isis mobile payments coming in September
- T-Mobile ISIS Mobile Wallet test program launching October 22
- ISIS Mobile Wallet lands on the Play Store for T-Mobile
- ISIS Mobile Payments officially launching October 22nd
Isis Mobile Payments Start Today In Salt Lake City And Austin – Here’s The Full Breakdown
Isis launched its mobile payments platform in Salt Lake City, UT and Austin, TX today, in a limited, initial rollout that’s probably best viewed as a tech test more than an NFC payments panacea. We’ve know for quite some time that these would be Isis’ launch markets (after numerous delays), and we also has a basic idea of how the system would work: NFC. What wasn’t so widely-known is the fact that Isis uses the SIM secure element method to store payment credentials.
This is in contrast to Google Wallet’s method, where your virtual MasterCard (used as the medium through which your payments are processed) is stored in a secure element that is typically included as a part of the NFC chip.
- List Of Some Isis Launch Devices Revealed – Includes Most Galaxy S III Variants And More
- UVLH1 Update On T-Mobile Galaxy S II Makes It The First Isis-Ready Phone – Is Google Wallet’s Biggest Foe Finally Here?
- Head Of Google Wallet Says Negotiations With Other Carriers Are Underway, Hopes To Announce New Partnerships "Soon"
- What Is Isis, And Why Should You Care It’s Now Partnered With A Bunch Of Payment Companies? Because It’s Out To Kill Google Wallet
Isis Mobile Payments Start Today In Salt Lake City And Austin – Here’s The Full Breakdown was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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Former Nokia Money crew kicks off iKaaz mobile payments, lets shops go with or without NFC
It’s a big day for mobile payments. Multiple former Nokia Money veterans have formally launched iKaaz, a two-pronged strategy to phone commece where choice is the order of the day. The first components, M-POS and its accompanying Tap & Pay, are rough equivalents to familiar NFC-based services like Google Wallet that rely on an NFC tag and matching app for in-store sales. A Consumer Wallet for Enterprises occupies more familiar territory for the ex-Nokia crew: it provides a mobile account that doesn’t require NFC or even an app, letting those in developing countries exchange funds through SMS or USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) if they’re sporting basic handsets. Us end users will need to wait for actual implementations before we see iKaaz for ourselves, but the sheer flexibility could have us paying through our phones in some unexpected places.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Nokia
Former Nokia Money crew kicks off iKaaz mobile payments, lets shops go with or without NFC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ISIS Mobile Payments officially launching October 22nd
Today the folks from ISIS have actually confirmed the October 22nd launch date for their mobile payment system. After multiple tips, leaks, and rumors suggested it was coming soon today they’ve made it official. After multiple delays ISIS will finally launch on October 22nd in two test cities. Those being Salt Lake City, Utah, and Austin, Texas.
We clearly saw this coming after yesterday’s T-Mobile ISIS app launched early in the Play Store, not to mention leaks on Verizon have been pegging the same October 22nd release date. For those not fully sure what ISIS is, it’s a NFC mobile payment system similar to Google Wallet. Using built-in NFC chips, and NFC capable SIM and SD cards to make purchases nationwide. Well, nationwide once ISIS payments are accepted in more locations like MasterCard and Paypass.
T-Mobile recently released a blog post, detailing a few things they have planned for ISIS payments, and we’ll surely be hearing more from the three main carriers on board soon. Those being Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Sadly Google Wallet currently only works on the Now Network. While I wish Google Wallet would be accepted by all carriers, it looks like that won’t be happening any time soon unfortunately.
Today we didn’t get specific details, but ISIS states we can expect “as many as 20″ different ISIS capable devices by the end of the year. That certainly is better than the few from Google. Paypal is aiming to offer something similar, but so far ISIS looks to be in the best position to make things happen since they’ve got 3 major carriers and multiple hardware partners all on board. Hopefully we see and hear more about “ISIS Ready” systems and smartphones soon.
Story Timeline
- PayPal Here mobile payment system gets demonstration video
- T-Mobile Galaxy S II update brings Isis support to battle Google Wallet
- T-Mobile explains what it will do with Isis NFC capabilities
- Isis mobile payments coming in September
- HTC DROID Incredible 4G update adds global roaming and ISIS support
- T-Mobile ISIS Mobile Wallet test program launching October 22
- ISIS Mobile Wallet lands on the Play Store for T-Mobile
[via VentureBeat]
ISIS Mobile Wallet lands on the Play Store for T-Mobile
The ISIS Mobile Wallet solution and competitor of Google Wallet has apparently launched a bit premature this afternoon. We’ve been hearing rumors and reports suggesting ISIS will launch for T-Mobile on October 22nd, but today the T-Mobile specific version has landed in the Google Play Store.
With only one carrier having full support for Google Wallet, ISIS is here to help out the folks on Verizon, AT&T, and of course T-Mobile. We haven’t heard much from the mobile payments company as of late, but the leaks have slowly been appearing. This was originally supposed to kick off late this summer and even in September but that never happened.
We’ve been seeing ISIS appear in recent updates from both T-Mobile and Verizon, and both are supposed to be starting a limited test period later this month if rumors are correct. T-Mobile recently went on record detailed what they’ll do with ISIS and NFC payment solutions. Then Verizon’s DROID Incredible 4G received an update with ISIS support.
So far the T-Mobile branded ISIS Mobile Wallet app that is available right now won’t be of much use. You’ll need a T-Mobile SIM that has NFC support, a NFC and ISIS capable device, and of course a retail store that accepts ISIS instead of Paypass. T-Mobile offers the Galaxy S II, Galaxy S III, and the Amaze 4G with NFC capabilities just to name a few. We should be hearing some official statements from both T-Mobile and ISIS sometime soon so stay tuned if you’re interested in mobile commerce.
Story Timeline
- Isis, Google Wallet competitor, to run on Android
- Google Wallet now supports all major credit cards
- Google Wallet person to person payments and more could be coming soon
- T-Mobile Galaxy S II update brings Isis support to battle Google Wallet
- T-Mobile explains what it will do with Isis NFC capabilities
- Isis mobile payments coming in September
- HTC DROID Incredible 4G update adds global roaming and ISIS support
- T-Mobile ISIS Mobile Wallet test program launching October 22
[via Droid-Life]
T-Mobile ISIS Mobile Wallet test program launching October 22
ISIS, the mobile payments platform we’ve been hearing about for months, is finally going to launch on October 22 of this year. Well, it’s not a full launch, more like a pilot to test the service, but it’s still a step in the right direction for sure. A leaked image of what looks like a T-Mobile internal document posted by TmoNews clearly shows that they plan to have this app hit Google Play on the 22nd.
Of course, there are some requirements to be able to use this new mobile wallet program. First of all, you will need to have a T-Mobile device with an ISIS SIM card. Only certain devices are supported for the time being. You will also need to own a Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II, or Relay 4G to be able to use the NFC payment system.
As is the case with most pilot programs, it will only launch in a few major markets, and then it will roll out to other places in time. The initial markets for this program are Salt Lake City, Utah and Austin, Texas. As this rolls out to other markets, it could be a huge success and put T-Mobile at the forefront of mobile payments. Only time will tell.
One thing to note, is that the screenshot specifically mentions that devices using ISIS cannot be rooted. We do not know if that is something that can be worked around, but at this point, it looks like your device will need a clean install to use ISIS. As always, we will keep you posted with news on ISIS as it gets closer to launching in its initial test markets.
Story Timeline
[via TmoNews]
Rogers, CIBC may launch Suretap NFC-based payments on October 15th, require a unique SIM
Rogers and Canadian bank CIBC struck a deal for NFC-based mobile payments back in May, long enough ago that it was starting to fade out of the public consciousness. The alliance may be near refreshing our memory with a commercial launch in the cards. MobileSyrup has reportedly scored internal documents that has the two launching their e-commerce collaboration on October 15th under a slightly catchier Suretap name. Unfortunately, the text also suggests that the initial launch will require at least as much hoop-jumping from customers as for the original Google Wallet plans. Avoiding a traditional wallet will demand a BlackBerry Bold 9900 or Curve 9360 on Rogers, a CIBC MasterCard, nearby stores with PayPass terminals, a CIBC app and now a special NFC-enabled SIM card — a set of criteria that disqualifies almost everyone, especially when there’s supposedly a $50 ceiling on transactions. It remains a step forward for mobile payments in a country that has had very few options to start with, but we’d only anticipate widespread adoption once there’s a much wider selection of devices and banks.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, RIM
Rogers, CIBC may launch Suretap NFC-based payments on October 15th, require a unique SIM originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Google Looks to Hire Work Staff for Nexus Device Call Center?
According to an uncovered job listing from Randstand Staffing, an un-named company is looking for Android afficianados that can provide over-the-phone support to resolve caller issues on mobile payments, digital media, and device support. The company doing the hiring “just released an Android tablet” and is based in Mountain View, CA which points to one company, Google. [...]
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MasterCard Sees Potential For NFC; Launches PayPass Developer Kit For BlackBerry And Android
NFC is the predicted alternate payment system in the near future as more payment services are investing in it. While Apple did not incorporate NFC in its soon-to-be-released iPhone 5, companies like MasterCard still believes in the potential of Near Field Communication. MasterCard reportedly released a software development kit for its patented mobile PayPass technology that will run on BlackBerry OS 7 and Android platforms. The said toolkit will give third-party developers and mobile operators the ability to incorporate support for MasterCard’s “tap-and-go” mobile payments using smartphones and other similar devices.
The kit would also hasten the time to sell the company’s NFC-based mobile payment technology. The kit is a set of tools the developers can use to create their apps with NFC-enabled capability and a full user interface. MasterCard reveals that there are now more than 70 devices that are compatible with PayPass, including the Samsung flagship Galaxy S3, HTC One X, BlackBerry Bold 9900, and Sony Xperia S. Nokia’s Symbian as well as Windows Phone are two other platforms being considered as Apple’s iPhone has foregone NFC for good.
The toolkit includes API documentation, API code libraries, sample UI application code, a developer guide, a test suite for compliance, and a white-label reference UI application. The list ensures that developers have all the needed tools to allow PayPass technology to be fully integrated into a range of different interfaces like mobile banking apps, mobile payment apps, or mobile wallets. The while-labeling option will ensure that banks can create their own branded apps that support contactless payments through MasterCard. To further stir interest for developers, MasterCard also announced that the approval process is now more efficient.
According to estimates from Juniper Research, MasterCard’s PayPass is accepted throughout the world, and by 2014, there will be around 300 million devices capable of NFC technology. Another technology research firm predicted that there will be around $617 billion mobile payments by 2016 alone. However, many analysts think that the key player for faster propagation of NFC technology remains to be the most valuable company in the world, Apple. It is difficult to ignore the impact Apple has even if there will be millions of other NFC-enabled devices in the United States alone. Even if all Android devices will support NFC, the massive customer base of Apple can pose a big challenge in creating some form of a consensus on payment standards.
So far, the first customer of MasterCard in North America is the Bank of Montreal. It is the only bank in Canada which agreed on “tap-and-go” mobile payment. MasterCard is trying to woo European clients to use the technology including a five-year deal with Everything Everywhere. Both companies have agreed to develop a contactless NFC payment option. Other companies like the German Deutsche Telekom and Turkish Turkcell are also working on the project. MasterCard is also working with the first commercial NFC payment service in the United Kingdom, Orange on QuickTap.
Source: techcrunch
Mobile Miscellany: week of September 10th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you’re like us and really want to know what’s going on, then you’ve come to the right place. This past week, C Spire Wireless activated its first LTE networks and we discovered strong indication that Isis will leverage the GSMA’s SIM-based NFC standard for its mobile payments system. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of September 10th, 2012.
Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of September 10th, 2012
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Software, Mobile
Mobile Miscellany: week of September 10th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Isis Mobile Wallet Launch Gets Delayed
The launch of the Isis mobile wallet system, which was scheduled this summer, was postponed. According to Jaymee Johnson, the company’s head of the marketing department, the launch has been moved to September 21. Johnson also revealed that the delay was not due to a single factor, but by their decision to put the final touches on enhancing user experience. In Johnson’s own words during an interview with FierceMobileContent, ”It’s really more of a commitment from an end-to-end customer experience to make sure all elements of that process are working well.”
Johnson was referring to the whole process of consumers purchasing a phone that features Near Field Communication to the consumer acquiring the app, and finally, using the app on the phone to make payments in a store.
Essentially, Isis enables consumers to use a phone that supports Near Field Communication to purchase items, and use coupons or loyalty cards. The mobile payment system is backed up by three large carriers in the United States: Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, and T-Mobile USA. Apart from these, it is getting great support as well from credit card companies, and merchants. The three companies first made mention of the service in 2010. Among its partners are American Express, Barclaycard, Capital One, Ingenico, ViVOtech, Equinox Payments, and Ingenico. Meanwhile, other handset manufacturers have announced that they are releasing devices that may use the Isis mobile payment system. These include Samsung, Research in Motion, Motorola Mobility, HTC, LG, and Sony.
Isis guarantees its consumers of security that is allegedly even better than regular wallets. In the instance of phone loss, consumers can request carriers to access their mobile wallet remotely and remove its contents. Furthermore, one’s wallet secured by a PIN, and the consumer’s personal information may not be accessed from the mobile wallet itself.
Meanwhile, the recently-launched iPhone 5 was revealed to be without a Near Field Communication capability. Said phone was expected to have been a great assistance in encouraging more people to use mobile payments. All hope, however, is not lost, as Isis is said to be developing a sleeve that will introduce an NFC chip to the device.
Isis’ NFC mobile payments delayed past September target
Isis must have spoken too soon. Just days after the alliance committed to launching its mobile payment system in September, its marketing lead Jaymee Johnson has warned FierceMobileContent that the rollout won’t make the promised summer target. The delay is portrayed as a collection of minor hiccups, although we’re not bracing ourselves for a short wait: Isis plans to update us on the situation in October, and that suggests we won’t be making NFC-based purchases on Isis any sooner. It’s another disappointment for the future-is-now crowd hoping to leave cash behind — not that Apple and Google will object to a rival’s misstep.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Isis’ NFC mobile payments delayed past September target originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 17:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Google Offers Director of Product Leaves for New Start-Up
After 4 and half years, Google Offers director of product is leaving for greener pastures. Eric Rosenblum is just one of a few exits made by Google Offers members recently, and although this might seem like like a foreboding for the service, apparently things are still going strong for the division. In an interview with GigaOM, Eric Rosenblum said:
“We’ve always positioned Google Offers as not competing directly with Groupon. We’ve built it as a closed loop ad platform. I think we were wise to take a different tack and spend our engineering resources on that tack. Most small advertisers want to pay on CPA (cost per acquisition) basis, and I’m pretty proud that it’s as far along as it is.”
Mr. Rosenblum now finds himself as the VP of product for a start-up called Drawbridge, a company that deals with mobile advertising — very similar to what he was already doing with Google. Full press release can be found below.
Eric Rosenblum, Former Google Director of Product, Joins Cross-Screen Advertising Startup Drawbridge
Mobile payments expert to lead product innovation for Drawbridge’s cross-screen advertising platform
SAN MATEO, Calif. – September 10, 2012 – Drawbridge, the leader in cross-screen mobile advertising, today announces its new VP of Product: Eric Rosenblum, former Google Offers Director of Product. Rosenblum brings over 16 years of experience in product innovation, mobile payments and entrepreneurial ventures and will be responsible for driving forward product development plans for Drawbridge’s cross-screen mobile ad platform.
Rosenblum spent over four years at Google as Director of Strategy and Operations and Director of Product. Prior to joining Google, Rosenblum was founder and CEO of Smartpay, a leading mobile payment company in China. He also served as GM of Greater China and Global Strategy GM for RealNetworks. Rosenblum started his career with the Boston Consulting Group in Hong Kong and Shanghai after receiving an MBA from MIT Sloan.
“Drawbridge’s opportunity is immense,” says Rosenblum. “10% of media time is now consumed on mobile, but mobile only attracts 1% of the ad spend. The team at Drawbridge has made tremendous progress developing the tools to close this gap and building the technology foundations to finally make targeting and attribution work across all mobile screens and devices. I am beyond excited to be joining this outstanding team for the challenge.”
Drawbridge has developed technology that is able to leverage targeting data across screens and across devices. Through Drawbridge’s sophisticated probabilistic and statistical inference models, brands get a unified view of their customers regardless of channel, screen, or device. Since launching in May, Drawbridge has onboarded major advertisers focused on driving cross-screen performance in the retail, travel, and entertainment verticals. Drawbridge has made its innovative platform publicly available to advertisers and publisher partners, who can sign up at www.drawbrid.ge.
Kamakshi Sivaramakrishnan, Drawbridge founder and former AdMob and Google scientist, leads the company with funding from premier venture capitalists Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital.
To learn more about Drawbridge or sign up for their service, visit: www.drawbrid.ge
About Drawbridge
Drawbridge developed the world’s first cross-screen ad technology, enabling marketers to reach their target audience across any screen and any device – smartphone, tablet or personal computer. Unlike web cookies or fingerprint-based solutions, Drawbridge leverages anonymous, non-personally identifiable information to serve ads to hundreds of millions of unique users around the world – regardless of what kind of device they happen to be using. Drawbridge is located in Silicon Valley and is backed by Sequoia Capital and Kleiner, Perkins Caulfield and Byers.
Samsung Galaxy S III gets Quick Tap mobile payments system from Orange and Barclaycard, works with most UK bank accounts
We’ve barely heard from Orange’s Quick Tap payments system in over a year, but now the UK phone network has decided to dump the underwhelming Tocco Lite and add its mobile payments service to the NFC-capable Galaxy S III. Tying into any British MasterCard, Visa, Debit or credit card, you’ll be able to pay up to £20 from your account without the need for PIN entry. New users on Orange SIM-toting Galaxy S IIIs will also pick up a 50 quid bonus when they activate the feature, which kicks off this Wednesday. Check the press release below for all the details.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Samsung Galaxy S III gets Quick Tap mobile payments system from Orange and Barclaycard, works with most UK bank accounts originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 13:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Orange Quick Tap brings mobile NFC payments to Samsung Galaxy S3 users
Orange UK has just announced its new mobile payment system, Quick Tap, will be available to users of their Samsung Galaxy S3 starting this Wednesday. Quick Tap will utilize the device’s NFC chip to process mobile payments with the tap of your phone.
Barlaycard is the vendor in bed with Orange for the service, and their combined effort has seen more than 100,000 locations in the UK light up with support. It’s been more than a year in the making, but it’s finally here and I’m sure those on Orange in the UK couldn’t be more excited.
The “quick” part of the service comes in its ability to bypass the need of a PIN when purchases of £20 or below are made. Anything higher will require your PIN, and that’s not a bad trade-off to ask for when you consider the need of heightened security in this digital day and age.
Orange is offering £50 in credit for those who sign up for the service, and it’ll be compatible with any VISA or Mastercard from the UK. While it’s not Google Wallet we can’t imagine Quick Tap will be anything less than a bliss to use. Head to the source link for the full details.
CyanogenMod 9.1 now being pushed out with SimplyTapp NFC integration
Mobile payments have yet to catch on with the majority of smartphone users, but CyanogenMod is trying to change that through its partnership with SimplyTapp. Starting today, official builds of CyanogenMod 9.1 are being pushed out with SimplyTapp NFC integration, allowing users to make payments from their smartphones with a single tap. Currently, the Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus and Samsung Galaxy S II are supported, as well as a wide range of devices that have built-in NFC. Builds are rolling out right now, so if you’re interested in hopping on the mobile payment bandwagon, catch the official instructions and downloads after the break.
Instructions:
- To Sign-up – flash CM9.1 on your NFC capable device, and get the Tapp app
- Costs – It is between $0 and $5 to get an NFC card. That all depends on the card or cards you select.
- Cards supported – At the moment you can sign up for a Tapp Anywhere Card (like a gift card with a fixed balance), CyanogenMod Tapp Card (Reloadable), as well as various store cards (depending on location).
- Security – Card credentials are stored in the cloud and enabled to the point-of-sale via standard security mechanisms. By evolving from the plastic card model, this keeps your credentials (aka payment information) secure, accessible by only you, and only when you need them.
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