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Mastercard will soon permit crypto payments in Web3 using USDC settlements

03/02/202303/01/2023 Jennifer Goula

Crypto payments - Mastercard credit card

The move is made via a partnership with Immersve using its decentralized protocols for real-time transactions. Mastercard’s new partnership with Immersve, a Web3 crypto payment protocol, will soon make it possible for users to use cryptocurrency to complete purchase transactions in-person, online and in the metaverse. Consumers will be able to use the Mastercard network for shopping with cryptocurrency. Once the crypto payments have been successfully sent from the user’s end, a US dollar-backed stablecoin called USD Coin, which is issued by Circle, is converted into fiat so that it…

Mobile wallet use in Italy is growing even as its government faces cash mess

02/16/202302/15/2023 Jennifer Goula

Italian consumers are increasingly turning to their smartphones to pay for products and services. According to the results of the PYMNTS Q3 2022 ConnectedEconomy Index “How the World Does Digital” study, mobile wallet use is on the rise in Italy even as that country’s government struggles with cash chaos. The research tracked digital engagement across 11 different countries, including payments via smartphone. What the mobile wallet study found was that there was a rise in usage during routine activities. This suggests that the growth isn’t just based on specific circumstances…

Meta gains court approval to acquire virtual reality startup Within Unlimited

02/02/202302/01/2023 Jennifer Goula

Virtual reality - Approved - Meta - Court

This court decision has defeated the US Federal Trade Commission’s effort to block the purchase. Meta Platforms Inc. has received the nod from the courts to acquire Within Unlimited, a virtual reality startup. This is a defeat to the effort the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made to block the purchase deal. The FTC’s preliminary injunction to block the acquisition was denied in a sealed decision yesterday. The decision was made by US District Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California. The decision was to reject the FTC’s request…

Apple AR glasses delayed in favor of cheaper mixed reality gadget

01/19/202301/18/2023 Jennifer Goula

The augmented reality device was meant to be launched on the heels of this year’s headset. While Apple still plans to unveil a mixed-reality headset in 2023, it will be delaying the AR glasses that were supposed to be a follow-up product launch this year. The postponement of the second gadget is occurring due to technical challenges in its development. The lightweight AR glasses will be delayed in favor of a cheaper version of its mixed reality headset. Apple originally intended to roll them out after its full-featured mixed reality…

Mobile wallet use now higher in the Netherlands than Spain

01/05/202301/04/2023 Jennifer Goula

Though Spain had been holding the lead spot in Europe, 2022’s third quarter lost its crown. New data released by PYMNTS has revealed that mobile wallet use in Spain has now fallen behind the Netherlands. A collaboration between PYMNTS and Stripe showed that the Netherlands saw notable growth. A report by Connected Economy called “how the World Does Digital: Different Paths to Digital Transformation”, a collaboration between PYMNTS and Stripe showed that 13.6 percent of consumers in the Netherlands completed their in-store purchases using a mobile wallet in the third…