International Mobile Commerce

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…

Air Canada becomes first airline to test facial recognition tech for ID verification in Canada

02/27/202302/27/2023 Amanda Giasson

Facial recognition tech - Air Canada Plane

The major Canadian airline has launched digital identification. Air Canada recently announced the launch of its facial recognition tech, becoming Canada’s very first airline to receive approval to offer its customers the security and convenience of a new digital option to confirm their identification. Air Canada’s digital identification offers customers a seamless boarding option. The digital identification offered by the airline is a single enrollment feature on the Air Canada app. The biometric data of the customer is encrypted and stored only on the customer’s mobile phone. For the data…

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…

India will ban Chinese apps for loan lending and betting

02/08/202302/07/2023 John Montgallo

The country’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched the banning process. The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has announced that it has started the process of banning Chinese apps and applications linked with China in the category of betting and loan lending. Applications with links to China are being banned and blocked by the MeitY in India. This will include 138 Chinese apps for betting and 92 in the loan lending category associated with China. The MeitY proceeded with the launch of the banning procedures…

Apple’s Emergency SOS saves two Canadian women

02/01/202301/31/2023 Sam Lambert

The satellite feature isn’t new, but stories like this one are underscoring its importance. Though the Apple Emergency SOS feature connecting users to satellite in urgent situations has been around for a while, a recent case in Canada has shown how important the service can be. A recent survival study involved the rescue of two women who went missing in Canada but used the service. Back in November 2022, QR Code Press reported on Apple’s rollout of the Emergency SOS satellite service in Canada and the United States. Since then,…