In the works for over a year and a half, documents attempting to standardize the mobile-payment process at convenience stores and gas stations are officially seeing the light of day, entering a 60-day public-review phase, according to members of the NACS technical body called Conexxus. [Read more…]
Discover today announced an agreement with Apple that will allow Discover cardmembers in the U.S. to make contactless payments in participating stores through Apple Pay. [Read more…]
Global Payments Inc., a provider of payment technology services, launched Ingenico Companion Mobile Payment (iCMP) MPOS – a turnkey mobile point-of-sale solution offering full debit and credit EMV and contactless payment acceptance to Canadian merchants.
The iCMP MPOS solution includes a secure Bluetooth-enabled reader that pairs with a merchant’s Apple, iOS or Android device, for secure on-the-go payment acceptance. Through the robust iCMP MPOS app, merchants can manage their businesses on the go, with an in-app inventory catalogue, digital receipts and a merchant portal that provides real-time insights into business operations with detailed reporting.
“As we continue to expand our leading selection of innovative point-of-sale solutions, we’re pleased to offer our merchants a growing number of mobile payment offerings designed to meet evolving business needs for portable payment convenience,” said René Bélanger, President, Global Payments Canada. “Unlike other mobile solutions, the iCMP MPOS supports EMV and NFC contactless credit and debit card acceptance, including Apple Pay, providing our merchants with an off-the-shelf solution that is flexible, simple, secure and will position our customers for the future.”
As a PCI PTS 3.0 and EMV Level 1 and 2 certified solution, the iCMP MPOS complies with the latest payment and security standards for secure payment processing capabilities, designed to encrypt card data at the time of the transaction. According to the company, the iCMP MPOS is an affordable solution for small businesses, offering a flat-rate pricing structure, free EMV- and contactless-enabled reader and no set-up fees.
Source: Business Wire
Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX), a group of large U.S. merchants, said Monday it expects to launch an early version of its CurrentC mobile payment app mid-year in an unnamed, mid-sized market.
The group unveiled CurrentC in September, saying it had already launched the payment service by that time in private pilot mode in select, unnamed locations, with plans for regional and national rollouts in 2015. [Read more…]
CinemaxX and the first European cross-channel payment solution Yapital enter into cooperation agreement. Payment by smartphone at all CinemaxX cinemas across Germany will be possible.
From film tickets to popcorn and nachos – paying by smartphone at the ticket office and at the service counter will soon be possible at CinemaxX! Germany’s best-known cinema chain will offer payment by Yapital app at all 29 German CinemaxX cinemas in a few weeks’ time.
As an industry pioneer, CinemaxX is committed to offer its customers “more than cinema”: more service, more comfort and more entertainment with the most perfect image and sound quality. For even more convenience in the service area, CinemaxX will be the first cinema operator to offer payment by smartphone in German cinemas. At the ticket office, customers simply scan the QR code at the payment terminal with the Yapital app and click on ‘confirm’ – and the movie can start.
“Big blockbusters regularly attract millions of spectators to cinemas. As one of the largest operators of modern multiplex cinemas, CinemaxX is a crucial partner to help establish mobile payment with Yapital in people’s daily lives,” explains Karsten Cornelissen, Managing Director at Yapital. “It’s just so easy to pay for the ticket, snacks and drinks quickly, simply and safely with the one device that I have with me at all times – my smartphone.”
Benefit, a pre-paid mobile wallet application where everyday transactions result in a donation or contribution, today announced it closed a $900,000 funding round, which will help expand the startup’s next phase of software development and expand its reach into new markets with a white-labeled product.
Benefit places more than 100 of the biggest retailers in the world into the mobile wallet game, including Amazon.com, American Airlines, Gap, JCPenney, Lowe’s, Starbucks, Target , Wal-Mart, Whole Foods and more.
Fueled by this rapid pace of growth with major brands, Benefit’s early stage investment was led by Start Garden, an early stage venture capital fund, with additional investment from a variety of private equity partners.
Benefit users can purchase discounted e-gift cards on the app, while waiting in a checkout line, and instantly redeem them on-site. Benefit passes the discounted rate to the cause of the users choice. This can be a school, non-profit or a personal life expense, like a mortgage or health care premium. Benefit users become loyal shoppers because when they checkout using the app, they are supporting a cause that is important to them.
“Life is expensive, and most of our money is spent purposefully, whether it’s paying for a child’s education and field trips, or health care and the mortgage bill, Benefit empowers users to make those important payments by enabling them through everyday purchases,” said Derik Lolli, founder and CEO of Benefit Mobile. “With this new round of funding, we will establish Benefit as a comprehensive mobile payments platform on which private organizations and enterprise can offer valuable benefits to employees or customers.”
When users choose to fund life’s expenses on their iPhone or Android device, Benefit and its retail partners contribute up to 25 percent of those everyday transactions back, which can be applied to the things that matter most to each user.
“We are very excited about Benefit Mobile and how their platform can build brand loyalty while empowering intentional contributions to a charity or life expense. They have put together a great technology with an extremely scalable platform that appeals to retailers and integrates with large, corporate environments,” said Kim Pasquino, investment director at Start Garden. “Benefit is perfectly positioned to leverage the emerging mobile wallet trend in an entirely new way. Start Garden and our co-investors recognize the value Benefit is bringing to this market and looks forward to assisting Derik and his team with scaling and market adoption.”
More information: Benefit
Source: Derik Lolli, Benefit
Today, Sweden is the most cashless society in the world. Over 95% of transactions are digital. There are four different mobile-payment commerce platforms in use.
Vodafone Group Plc will work with MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s largest wireless operator, to facilitate mobile-banking services in parts of the continent’s sub-Saharan region.
Well, that didn’t take long! A new survey from 451 Research finds Apple Pay gaining momentum in the mobile payments space, surpassing both PayPal and Google Wallet.
“Our latest survey shows planned use of Apple Pay has been on an upward trajectory since it became available six months ago – with the service helping to spark consumer demand for mobile payment technologies,” said Andy Golub, Survey Research Director for 451 Research. “Although consumer perceptions of security remain an issue, the results point to marked improvements in this area.”
[Read more…]
Samsung SDS, the IT service affiliate of Samsung Group, has announced that it is launching a new fingerprint mobile payment service with local payment gateway firms KG Mobilians and KG Inicis within South Korea, with global expansion planned for later. [Read more…]
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