Author: Stephanie Beck

CDC may use mobile ad location data to track stay-at-home order compliance

Stephanie Beck
Mobile ad location data - people on smartphones

US government officials may use this technology to monitor the spread of COVID-19. US government officials are using mobile ad location data provided by the smartphone advertising industry to track the movements of Americans during the novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. The data is not coming from the carriers themselves but is from mobile marketers instead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as state and local governments have obtained mobile ad location data about people in regions of “geographic interest,” reported the Wall Street Journal. The purpose…

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Brazil’s Central Bank unveils a national QR code standard

Stephanie Beck
National QR code standard - Brazil

The financial authority in the country has released new regulations to help universalize mobile payments. The Central Bank of Brazil has announced a new national QR code standard meant to help make mobile payments more universal. The country has been pushing forward to adopt cashless payments and this is the latest step in that effort. The new quick response code regulations will become compulsory as of September 2020. “The new rules aim to increase transparency for end-users, both payers and recipients, by expanding and improving access to information and, thus,…

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Starbucks is testing the use of Bakkt Cash cryptocurrency as a mobile payments option

Stephanie Beck
Bakkt Cash cryptocurrency - Starbucks Store - Starbucks Employees

The coffee chain is conducting a limited test of the crypto among its many digital transaction options. Starbucks is testing a method for allowing its users to choose Bakkt Cash cryptocurrency to pay for coffee and food through the mobile app. The testing period was announced in a tweet by Adam White, the crypto’s president. The Bakkt Cash cryptocurrency – pronounced as “backed” – is overseen by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) as a Bitcoin futures exchange. ICE also owns the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Earlier this month, the digital currency…

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Coronavirus apps are being rejected by Apple, say developers

Stephanie Beck
Coronavirus apps - virus - disease

Searching for the virus at the App Store and even on Google Play does not return results. It appears that Apple and Google are cracking down on COVID-19 coronavirus apps that aren’t produced and published by recognized medical organizations such as hospitals and governments. iPhone developers have been reporting that they receive rejection notices when related to the virus. A recent CNBC report cited four independent developers who had received rejection notices for their coronavirus apps. These applications are typically designed to allow users to view statistics regarding locations where…

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Play Store adware crackdown drops 600 Android apps from the marketplace

Stephanie Beck
Adware Crackdown - Stop - Warning - Ban

Google has taken down hundreds of mobile applications and has banned several developers. Google has launched a massive adware crackdown, removing 600 Android apps and banning developers who were using out-of-application ads to send users spam. The effort was made to help slash the number of abusive Android developers breaking Play Store regulations. The adware crackdown was meant primarily to remove the apps and their developers when out-of-application ads were used for spamming users. An out-of-app ad is one with origins in one application but that will be displayed on…

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