Apple mobile wallet practices hurt competition, says EU regulators

Mobile wallet - Back of iPhone - Blue case

The European Commission’s preliminary findings were that the policies harmed competition. European regulators have notified Apple Inc. that its mobile wallet practices were, in their initial view, harmful to competition. The preliminary findings of the European Commission do not “prejudge the outcome” in antitrust investigations. The European Commission (EC) announced in a news release that it had advised Apple “of its preliminary view that it abused its dominant position in markets for mobile wallets on iOS devices.” The focus of the concerns expressed about the payment app had to do…

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Does Apple have the right to the NFC technology used for its mobile wallet?

NFC technology - Apple wallet

Aire Technology patent-holding company has filed a lawsuit against the iPhone maker. Irish patent-holding company Aire Technology has sued Apple over alleged patent infringement for the NFC technology and digital wallet tech used in many iPhone models. The lawsuit was filed with the US District Court for the Western District of Texas. The company’s lawsuit asserts that Apple products such as the iPhone and Apple Watch “that support NFC and/or mobile payment applications, such as Apple Pay […] infringe at least one claim” of three US patents. Those patents were…

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French city launches Android-compatible NFC ticketing service

NFC ticketing - Person using phone on public transit

In Strasbourg, all Android phones enabled with near field communication technology can use the service. Android smartphone owners with near field communication in their devices can use a new NFC ticketing service in Strasbourg to purchase, store and validate digital tickets and passes. The service can be used across the French city for monthly or annual bus passes and other transportation. The NFC ticketing service works for riders of buses, trams, and other forms of public transportation in Strasbourg, France, including regional rail services. The system was implemented by the…

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Researchers use phone NFC technology to hack ATMs

NFC technology - person using ATM

A security firm consultant also used card reader tech flaws to mess around with point-of-sale systems. Security issues with ATMs aren’t anything new for cybercriminals and security researchers, but recently readily available phone NFC technology was used to hack into an ATM. The researcher found bugs letting him use near field communication technology as a quick hack. The bugs in the systems let the researcher use his phone’s NFC technology to simply wave the device over ATMs and point-of-sale terminals to hack them. By using the contactless credit card readers…

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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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