Tech giants play a substantial role in mobile wallets innovation and competition

Mobile wallets - Apple and Google logos

Apple and Google were considerable players in establishing tap-to-pay regulations and technology. A new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) report has placed the spotlight on the way mobile wallets are impacted by the policies and practices of tech giants. This is particularly true when it comes to the way that smartphones and wearables are used to transact. For instance, Apple currently has a ban on bank and payment apps from being able to access the Apple iOS device tap-to-pay functionality, setting fees for mobile wallets through Apple Pay. On the…

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Contactless mobile payments collaboration forms between CTBC Bank and Soft Space

Contactless mobile payments - Paying with wearable device

The partnership will work as a system used by Taiwanese taxis to make it easier to charge fares. CTBC Bank, based in Taiwan, has entered into a partnership with Soft Space, a fintech from Malaysia, to launch a contactless mobile payments system to be used by cab drivers to collect taxi fares. The system will allow customers with Android smartphones and NFC technology to tap to pay. The contactless mobile payments system will be powered by Soft Space so that Android phone users can pay for their cab rides using…

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Starbucks payment pen to lunch in Japan

Starbucks Payment Pen - Woman holding Starbucks Coffee

Starbucks is releasing a new NFC-enabled product in Japan. Starbucks is gearing up to launch another gadget in Japan that can be used in its stores. This time around it’s a Starbucks payment pen. Called “Starbucks Touch: The Pen,” the new hardware product is indeed a working pen. Not only can you write with it, but it has an NFC reader that connects to a digital wallet, allowing the user to pay for items at the coffee shop. The pen features brown gel ink and FeliCa technology. The Starbucks payment…

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The Phoenix Suns to offer NBA mobile payments and NFC ticketing

NBA mobile payments - NBA basketball

The Phoenix Suns mobile app will offer mobile-only ticketing at its Talking Stick Resort Arena. Beginning in the 2019/20 season in October, NBA mobile payments are coming to Arizona via the Phoenix Suns mobile app. In a partnership with Ticketmaster, the Arizona-based National Basket Ball Association (NBA) team will offer NFC ticketing after making the move to mobile-only ticketing at the team’s Talking Stick Resort Arena. The SafeTix service will be used to support the mobile ticketing. Ticketmaster’s Presence platform and its recently rolled out SafeTix service are being used…

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Wells Fargo contactless credit cards rollout to bank customers

Wells Fargo Contactless Credit Cards - Visa Contactless Card

Wells Fargo & Co. has announced the tap-to-pay technology for its credit and debit cards. Wells Fargo contactless credit cards are now being rolled out to its new customers. The San Francisco-based American multinational financial services company is joining its rivals JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp – among other US banks – who have already adopted this NFC (near field communications) tech for their credit and debit cards. Wells Fargo customers will be able to tap their credit cards to make payments instead of swiping them.…

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