Dear Readers,
Last week was the week Apple showed us the first glimpse of what could be in store for users of the iOS 6 on the iPhone in terms of the simplified mobile wallet: the Passbook (http://wp.me/p1Jrjn-FJ). Our write-up of it covered it all really - 2D barcodes, no NFC but a clever geolocation solution that will bring the required ticket, pass or loyalty card right to your lock screen. No more hacking around your phone trying to find the right card. Now where have I heard a similar argument to that in the past?
This solution isn't NFC-based (yet) but it does show that Apple is acknowledging the fact that some form of mobile wallet will be a pre-requisite in the future for people wanting to continue to work and play in the mobile space. It also appears that Apple is not alone. Leaked Sprint information - sent to website 'Android Central' - appears to show designs for a Sprint-based mobile wallet (http://bit.ly/L3fO03). If this is indeed the case then Google and Isis could have some competition as well as the Google Wallet losing its US mobile network partner.
Mobile banking was also in the news last week, but not in the traditional (?) way we have come to look upon mobile banking. Instead, the ability to withdraw money from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Natwest ATM's using just your phone was launched last week. If you carry the required app on your phone, you can make a request via your mobile, after which a six digit pin will be sent to you that can be entered at a cash machine for the money to be released. (http://bit.ly/KIoNOe).
Other news last week centred around the social payment company, iZettle . They have taken 25 million Euro in Series B funding (http://wp.me/p1Jrjn-G7) as well as releasing an API for their chip card payment solution (http://wp.me/p1Jrjn-G2). This is forward movement indeed for a company that uses social payment through chip cards.
But wait, am I seeing a theme developing here? Apple is making the most of 2D bar codes, RBS and Natwest are, in effect, using a glorified SMS system and iZettle is forging ahead on the back of chip cards. Seems that there is nothing close to NFC or contactless technology prevalent in any of these news items yet they are still driving the idea of the mobile wallet closer into the hands of everyone. Perhaps in this case the end really does justify the means?
I am also going to take this opportunity to let you know that the next Intelligence quiz will be going live next week so please look out for it. It will run until the 30th June and this month's gift is a boon for any Star Wars fan: Your own R2D2 USB hub, complete with authentic whistles and beeps! Enough to irritate just about every one on neighbouring desks, and at 15 cm high - it will certainly stand out as your own Desk Droid!
Until next week.
Steve Atkins
Contactless Intelligence
Featured on C-ITV this week
Payments & m-Commerce
Cash (flow) is King for Mobile Payments http://bit.ly/MtBpKo
Only 5k of France's 300k NFC payment terminals activated http://bit.ly/MtAHg2
Here's Who Might Buy Square If It Can't Raise $250 Million http://read.bi/NuNl3t
Contactless payments: Don't believe the hype! http://bit.ly/MtEEl1
You can now withdraw cash from an ATM with your mobile http://bit.ly/L5HdhD
BillBird partners Mastercard for mobile bill payments http://bit.ly/L5H51S
Leaked Sprint slides reveal NFC wallet designs // http://bit.ly/L3fO03
Mobile Payments: A Trillion Dollar Industry… Once Everyone Can Actually Make A Payment http://tcrn.ch/Nxxktt
Mobile Payments: The Good, The Bad, The Security http://bit.ly/L5HIs1
Belarusbank to present new forms of contactless payments by year end http://bit.ly/L5HDVg
Mobile POS outfit LightSpeed raises $30 million investment http://bit.ly/Nxyi9g
Money-on-Mobile’ (MOM) launches mobile payment services http://bit.ly/Nxye9s
Lemon raises $8 million; launches 'smarter wallet' http://bit.ly/NxyqW0
China: Mobile payments could replace cash, cards http://bit.ly/NxyoO6
Mobile Wallets: Big Opportunity, Big Hurdles http://bit.ly/NxylBQ
Future Foundation Agrees London Could be a Cashless Capital http://bit.ly/KImMl7
Video: No Security Issue on Mobile Payments, #Gemalto Says http://buswk.co/MvndDx
Paysafecard launches in Turkey http://bit.ly/KrfLKT
Apple’s Passbook Could Be A Platform, Not Just Another Mobile Payments Rival http://tcrn.ch/M7x0h6
Hong Kong’s first mobile wallet solution launched http://bit.ly/KIoSS6
RBS follows mobile wallet trend with card-free ATM withdrawals http://bit.ly/KIoNOe
NFC & Mobile
Identive to Restructure; Keeps NFC Products Intact http://bit.ly/MtBY6O
Giesecke & Devrient Latest to License Mifare Technology for NFC SIMs http://bit.ly/L5HlxQ
Near-Field Communication Is Shifting Marketing in Japan http://bit.ly/L5Hjpx
Samsung TecTiles are programmable NFC stickers for your smartphone http://bit.ly/L5Hhy1
Ericsson partners Aconite for secure banking app delivery to NFC handsets http://bit.ly/Nxy4Pe
Vodafone NFC trial gets thumbs-up from customers http://bit.ly/NxyjtR
A1 expands Paybox NFC trial to 5,000 customers http://bit.ly/NxyhlE
Samsung Introduces Branded NFC Tags Targeted at U.S. Market http://bit.ly/KIoIdB
NFC Solutions from STMicroelectronics Enable Wasion Group’s Power Meters http://bit.ly/KIoFyg
Transportation, Ticketing & Loyalty
London - Boris: No date for ‘wave and pay’ fares introduction http://bit.ly/MtE4no
Digital Airways provides NFC tourist info in Normandy http://bit.ly/MtDUME
MBTA to try out mobile ticketing app on commuter rail Read more: http://bit.ly/NuNXpJ
Other News & Opinion Articles
The importance of standards http://bit.ly/NuNWSJ
LevelUp Raises $12 Million As Part of Larger Fundraising Round to Expand Mobile Payment Product http://bit.ly/MtDR3o
Dynamics Inc.'s Gamification of $4 Trillion Payments Industry
Disrupts E3 -Integrates Gaming into Everyday Purchases http://on.mktw.net/MtEn1o
VeriFone launches multi-channel managed payment services for UK and Ireland http://bit.ly/Nxyt4g
From Llyods TSB: The faster way to pay for everyday items http://bit.ly/NxA9L6
SNCF deploys Ingenico's contactless payment terminals http://bit.ly/NxzbyA
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