India to take the lead in SoftPOS adoption? 10 Jul 8:35 AM (3 months ago)
“India’s SoftPOS market is set to outpace global averages, driven by government initiatives, UPI integration, and a robust fintech ecosystem,” Worldline India reports in a new study which also predicts that more than half of all transactions in the Asia-Pacific region will be contactless this year.
“The Indian government’s $1.2bn support program for digital payment solutions, including SoftPOS, is accelerating adoption among small businesses, kirana stores, and service providers,” the study explains. “The push for a cashless economy and the ubiquity of smartphones further fuel this momentum.”
“Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will drive over 60% of SoftPOS adoption, leveraging its affordability and ease of deployment.”
By 2027, SoftPOS is expected to surpass 34.5m merchant deployments globally, SoftPOS: Transforming Contactless Payments Across Industries adds.
Key advantages of SoftPOS identified in the paper include:
- Retail and e-Commerce: Enables ‘endless aisle’ experiences and mobile checkout for both in-store and delivery-based transactions.
- Restaurants and Food&Beverage: Accelerates tap-to-pay acceptance for small and micro-merchants, especially in Tier II and III cities.
- Transit and Mobility: Powers mobile ticketing, onboard fare collection and seamless reconciliation in buses, metros, and ride-sharing.
- Healthcare: – Simplifies in-clinic and pharmacy payments, supported by digital health initiatives.
- Insurance and Financial Services: Empowers agents to collect premiums and issue receipts in real-time — even in semi-urban and rural areas.
“SoftPOS adoption is set to surge over 1000% by 2028, with India leading the charge. AI and 5G will further enhance fraud detection and transaction speed, making SoftPOS the mainstream choice for merchants everywhere.
“With these innovations swiftly changing how payments are made, businesses that embrace them early will stand out in the market,” the paper concludes.
India to take the lead in SoftPOS adoption? was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.
Bain reports on opportunity for brands to add value with digital product passports 10 Jul 7:43 AM (3 months ago)
“Brands traditionally focus on how to increase customer lifetime value — the total revenue they extract from a single customer over time,” Bain & Company explains in a new report on digital product passport business models. “With DPPs, product lifetime value — the total value a product generates throughout its entire life cycle — will become an equally important metric.”
“With DPPs, one product can generate value multiple times, benefiting brands, consumers, and marketplaces well beyond the first transaction,” the consultants say.
“Digital Product Passports (DPPs) will force brands, consumers, and resale platforms to change how they view and measure value,” they add, with the new “product lifetime value” metric becoming the key metric for brands, consumers, and marketplaces.
“DPPs could double the lifetime value of products, with consumers set to benefit the most, receiving up to 65% of this new value,” Bain adds.
“A strong secondhand market will have a halo effect on the primary goods market, particularly for brands that retain value. Brands should look beyond compliance and deploy DPPs as a strategic opportunity with consumers in mind.”
“For most brands, value is realized at the point of sale, in a straightforward transaction in which goods are exchanged for revenue,” they explain.
“When a product is resold, consumers and secondary goods marketplaces — not the brand — capture the majority of any remaining value.
Value of DPPs
“DPPs could change this dynamic by tracking a product’s entire journey — from first sale through disposal — so brands can see who owns it, how it’s used, when it’s resold, and what services it requires along the way.
“Brands can leverage rich data streams made possible by DPP initiatives to track all the value derived from a product. When post-sale and resale opportunities are accounted for, the lifetime value of a product could double — and a single transaction could turn into ongoing revenue opportunities.
“Equally important, DPPs will give brands valuable insight into individual products and consumers. They’ll see which products retain the most value and which customers buy and resell pre-loved items — picking up important signals for future product development.”
“Rather than viewing DPPs as a compliance burden, brands should see them as a strategic tool for long-term value creation,” they conclude. “By moving beyond compliance, they can unlock a new measure of value — product lifetime value — and reap benefits from the first to final transaction.”
Bain reports on opportunity for brands to add value with digital product passports was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.
Juniper: Contactless payment transaction values to double by 2030 9 Jul 6:26 AM (3 months ago)
Global contactless payment transaction values will increase from US$7.7tn in 2025 to US$18.1tn in 2030, a rise of 106%, market analysts Juniper Research predict.
NFC ticketing and the arrival of open NFC wallets on Apple devices will be the two key growth drivers, the analysts say.
“The fastest growing contactless payment mechanism driving this expansion is Near-field Communication (NFC) ticketing; projected to grow by 300% over the next five years,” they say.
“NFC ticketing enables quick tap-in, tap-out access for transport and events; optimising queueing while maintaining security.
“NFC ticketing is projected to grow from 11.2bn transactions in 2025 to 44.8bn by 2030; driven largely by the metro sector.
“To fully realise this growth, providers should focus on making NFC ticketing interoperable across multiple transport modes and operators, as well as collaborating with local authorities to align with smart city initiatives. These strategies will embed contactless use deeper into daily routines; boosting adoption.
“The next fastest growing contactless payment mechanism is non-OEM digital wallets — those developed by banks or fintechs, rather than device manufacturers — which are projected to grow 113% over the next five years.
“This growth is fuelled by Apple’s move to open iPhone NFC access; allowing third-party apps to securely store payment credentials and enable tap-to-pay transactions. This paves the way for direct account-to-merchant payments that bypass Apple Pay and card networks.”
“This increases competition in the mobile contactless payments market; posing a direct threat to card schemes and OEM wallets,” research author Lorien Carter says.
“To break through the entrenched dominance of OEM wallets, new contactless payments providers must differentiate through added value such as loyalty rewards, real-time spending insights, and integrated digital ticketing capabilities.”
Juniper: Contactless payment transaction values to double by 2030 was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.
Seritag launches Lumiio NFC service for accidents and emergencies 27 Jun 4:58 AM (3 months ago)
Five years after it first began partnering with police departments and charities across the UK to provide dementia patients with NFC wristbands, Seritag has launched a new service that can be used by anyone with a health condition to easily communicate vital information to anyone with an NFC mobile phone in case of emergency.
“For the past five years Seritag have been supplying NFC dementia wristbands for police departments and charities across the UK to support dementia patients, Helen Jones, COO of Seritag’s new Lumiio service says.
“Our team decided to design a range of new products and a free app to allow smart phones to access essential personal information anywhere.”
Lumiio’s offering includes a range of wristbands and tokens and an accompanying mobile app that the wearer can use to write essential contact details and important information about their health condition to the integrated NFC tag.
The data stored can then be read by anyone with a device able to read NFC tags, with no need for them to first download an app.
The products start at £14.50 (US$19.91) and £1 is donated to the Dementia UK or Alzheimer’s Society charities for every device sold.
Secure and reliable
“Created to work seamlessly across all NFC-enabled phones, Lumiio provides a secure, reliable way to store and provide emergency contact and important data,” Jones explains.
“Originally developed to support individuals with dementia, Lumiio has evolved into a comprehensive platform that enables anyone — such as children, vulnerable adults, people with allergies, and non-verbal individuals — to carry essential personal and contact details in a universal smartphone-readable format.
“All information is stored directly on the Lumiio product and not a central server. Nobody can access the information without direct access to the product.
“No subscription is required to use the Lumiio products and they require no batteries. Lumiio tags can work for years with no additional costs.
“Vital data is stored directly on the NFC device and no app is needed to read the tags. Any modern iPhone or Android phone can access the information securely by tapping the product.
“Users simply download the complimentary Lumiio app (iOS / Android), enter their chosen details — such as emergency contacts, allergies or conditions — and simply ‘write’ via an NFC-enabled smartphone.”
“The information remains editable and can be accessed exclusively from the Lumiio product.
Lumiio products can be read by any NFC enabled phone without the Lumiio or any other app. Just a tap of the phone will present the information.
“However, with the Lumiio app already installed on the phone, the products can even be read without access to the internet — ideal for mountain rescue.”
Seritag launches Lumiio NFC service for accidents and emergencies was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.
Tawasul Transport pilots government-regulated stablecoin for taxi fare payments 27 Jun 12:14 AM (3 months ago)
Passengers using taxi services provided by Abu Dhabi-based Tawasul Transport can now take part in a pilot test of a new service that lets customers use their mobile phone to pay for their fares via AE Coin, a government-regulated stablecoin pegged to the United Arab Emirates’ dirham currency.
The pilot is being conducted in collaboration with Al Maryah Community Bank (Mbank) and is being coordinated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport’s Integrated Transport Center (ITC).
“The initiative is the first of its kind globally to adopt a stablecoin pegged to the UAE dirham for public transport payments,” the partners say.
“This milestone is part of joint efforts to enhance digital payment solutions and develop a smart, secure, and seamless transportation experience.”
The service enables passengers to pay electronically “via the AEC Wallet app using the stable digital currency AE Coin across all Tawasul taxis in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi”.
Simple and secure
“The AEC Wallet offers a simple and secure payment experience, allowing users to complete transactions by scanning a QR code inside the vehicle. AE Coin is pegged at a fixed rate of 1 AED = 1 AEC, ensuring strong financial stability and building trust in digital currency usage,” add the partners.
“The AEC Wallet app is available for free on the Apple Store, Google Play, and Huawei AppGallery. It features an innovative user experience focused on fast transactions, robust security, and reduced transfer costs.
“With this initiative, taxi passengers in Abu Dhabi can now benefit from an advanced digital payment experience that aligns with the emirate’s ambitions for digital transformation and strengthens its position as a global hub for fintech and smart mobility.”
“Coming soon: The AEC Wallet app will be accepted across more transportation services, merchants, and retail outlets across the UAE, further enhancing the customer experience and offering more opportunities to use AE Coin in everyday transactions.”
Real-time transactions
Advantages of the AE Coin include real-time transactions and low fees, the stablecoin’s developer adds.
“We are proud to be part of this innovative collaboration with Tawasul Transport and the Integrated Transport Center, as it aligns perfectly with our vision of driving the future of digital payments in the UAE,” Mohammed Wassim Khayata, CEO of Mbank, says.
“AE Coin is not just a digital currency, it’s a key pillar of the UAE’s emerging financial infrastructure, bringing stability and compliance into real-time consumer payments through blockchain.
“Today, we are introducing a transformative payment experience, offering customers a future-forward, cashless, secure, and cost-effective way to use public transport. It’s a step forward in bringing the UAE’s Digital Government Strategy 2025 to life.”
“As part of its strategic roadmap, Mbank is focused on forging future partnerships with businesses and government entities to expand the adoption of AEC Wallet across various sectors, revolutionising digital payments for both consumers and businesses in the UAE.”
Tawasul Transport pilots government-regulated stablecoin for taxi fare payments was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.
Google Wallet launches in Bangladesh 26 Jun 7:28 AM (3 months ago)
Customers of City Bank have become the first in Bangladesh to be able to use Google Pay to make payments at contactless POS terminals with their Android NFC smartphone.
The move marks the first time that Google Wallet and Google Pay have been available in Bangladesh. Apple Pay is not yet available in the country, which has a population of 175.6m.
Customers can add any City Bank-issued Mastercard or Visa credit, debit or prepaid card to Google Wallet to make contactless payments with Google Pay, the bank says.
Google Wallet launches in Bangladesh was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.
EPI signs ‘landmark’ agreement with European domestic payments brands for cross-border in-store mobile payments 26 Jun 6:50 AM (3 months ago)
Two of Europe’s leading mobile payments groups have signed a collaboration deal that aims to make it possible for European citizens to use their preferred domestic payment brand to make and receive payments both online and in-store anywhere in Europe.
The two parties to the deal are EPI, the European Payments Initiative, and the European Payments Alliance (EuroPA).
EPI is the bank-led organisation responsible for building Wero, a unified mobile payments service for Europe.
The EuroPA, meanwhile, was founded by three domestic mobile payment service providers with a vision “to contribute to the development of a sovereign and robust pan-European payments market through interoperability among existing payment solutions, leveraging SEPA instant payment standards and the most widely adopted mobile payment solutions in various European countries.”
Interoperability
Interoperability for users of EuroPA’s three founding services — Bancomat, Bizum, and MB WAY/ SIBS — has been in place since March 2025, enabling “over 50m users in Andorra, Italy, Portugal and Spain (customers of 186 financial institutions operating across the continent) to send and receive money instantly using their preferred payment solutions.”
The three founders were recently joined by Blik (Poland), IRIS (Greece), and Vipps MobilePay (Nordic countries) “and will gradually be integrated into operations”.
“This confirms EuroPA’s growth trajectory, reaching over 100m users in 10 European countries through fully operational infrastructures and trusted brands,” the alliance says.
The new agreement between EPI and EuroPA “aims at enabling European citizens to send and receive payments seamlessly across the continent, for the benefit of both consumers and merchants,” the partners say.
“The aim is to cover all use cases (person-to-person and commercial payments both online and in-store) across the markets of the participating solutions.”
“The collaboration between EuroPA and EPI is driven by a shared interest in exploring a joint solution that leverages the strong adoption and existing capabilities of each participant through enhanced interconnectivity.
“This agreement will initially cover 15 European countries, collectively representing over 382 million inhabitants (84% of the European Union population and Norway), enabling them to continue using their preferred digital payment solutions both locally and across Europe, and provide an approach for markets with no solution so far.
“Interconnecting existing solutions is a rapid path forward to European sovereignty and independence — a goal shared by both the European Commission and Eurosystem. This approach, grounded in Europe’s best-in-class solutions and diversity, will continue to drive innovation, convenience, and efficiency for both consumers and merchants.”
EPI signs ‘landmark’ agreement with European domestic payments brands for cross-border in-store mobile payments was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.
Iowa goes live with mobile driving licenses in Google Wallet 26 Jun 6:43 AM (3 months ago)
The US state of Iowa has added support for Google Wallet to its mobile driver’s license program, enabling holders to store their digital ID in their Google Wallet rather than having to store it in a dedicated Iowa Mobile ID app.
“With the launch of Iowa mobile ID in Google Wallet, Iowans can now conveniently and securely store their mobile ID in their Google Wallet and present it at TSA checkpoints — including the Des Moines and Eastern Iowa Airports, as well as participating businesses and venues for identity checks or age-restricted purchases,” technology provider Idemia says.
“New in-app, online, and in-person use cases are on the way in collaboration with Google’s strong partner ecosystem.”
“Iowans can securely add their Iowa driver’s license or state ID in Google Wallet by opening the Google Wallet App, selecting Add to Wallet and ID Card, and following the on-screen instructions.”
“Iowans can also continue to use the free Iowa Mobile ID app, launched and built by Idemia in October 2023 to access their mobile ID.”
“We are proud to once again continue our partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) to offer their residents even more security and convenience through Google Wallet,” Rob Gardner, CEO of Idemia Civil Identity, says.
“As Idemia’s first launch of mobile IDs in Google Wallet to date, I grow even more excited about the future of mobile ID technology and how accessible we can continue to make mobile ID for state residents across the country.”
Iowa goes live with mobile driving licenses in Google Wallet was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.
Alipay partners with smart glasses makers for augmented reality payments 20 Jun 5:19 AM (4 months ago)
Alipay has announced that it has successfully conducted its first e-wallet transaction to use augmented reality smart glasses and is to roll out support for the technology to its 36 digital wallet partners around the world this year.
The successful first transaction was conducted in Hong Kong using a pair of Meizu StarV Snap smart glasses linked to the AlipayHK mobile payment app.
Augmented reality payments will also go live in China this month, via a partnership with smart glasses maker Rokid.
“Alipay+’s advanced payment SDK solutions are integrated into all new Meizu smart glasses, supported by Meizu’s industry-leading optical waveguide display technology, voice noise reduction and capture technology, and camera-based code scanning technology,” Alipay says.
“The new feature expands use case scenarios for the AR glasses industry leader, and creates new growth avenues for e-wallets and merchants.”
In China, consumers will be able to make a payment with their Rokid smart glasses by first linking their Alipay account via the Rokid app and enabling voice verification.
In stores, they will then instruct their glasses to initiate a payment for a particular amount by simply saying, for example, “Rokid, pay 10 RMB”. The glasses will then scan the merchant’s Alipay QR code and the user will be prompted to confirm the transaction by voice, with payment details shown on the display.
More than 250,000 units of the new Rokid Glasses have been pre-ordered and are due to begin shipping this month.
Seamless and intuitive
As well as the advantage of offering hands-free payments, transactions with smart glasses complete in seconds versus the 20-30 seconds needed for phone-based QR payments, Alipay and Rokid say.
“The integration of payments into AR glasses supports a future of seamless, intuitive commerce — enabling instant, gesture-based transactions, immersive product discovery, and new ways for businesses to engage customers,” they add.
It also “points to a future of more seamless and intuitive commerce”.
“In the coming years, this technology could enable people to complete transactions simply by looking at or gesturing toward a product, removing friction from both physical and digital shopping.
“It may support interactive product discovery — letting users access real-time information, virtual try-ons, or personalized recommendations — and make it possible to pay instantly without reaching for a phone or wallet. For businesses, this opens up new ways to engage customers through immersive experiences and location-specific offers.”
“The new feature will roll out to Alipay+ global partner e-wallets in 2025 upon the integration of Alipay+ upgraded tech suite for smart glasses,” Alipay reports.
Offline payments
“The offline payment function of smart glasses launched overseas by Meizu and Alipay+ has set a new technological benchmark for the industry,” Meizu’s Peng Guo says.
“The innovation in the payment scenario has enhanced the practicality and appeal of smart glasses and also promoted the progress and development of the AR glasses industry. We hope this function will bring more convenient experiences to users.”
“Equipping Rokid Glasses with payment capabilities brings users a smoother and more intuitive experience, while also ushering the AI glasses industry into the era of payment,” Rokid founder Zhu Mingming says.
“By unlocking payment capabilities, smart glasses will rapidly transform into the next-gen personal device like the mobile phone,” Jiangming Yang, Ant International’s chief innovation officer adds.
“We look forward to supporting more industry partners with one integration into Alipay+‘s premium wallet ecosystem across global markets, to help them build broader user scenarios and achieve growth.”
Alipay partners with smart glasses makers for augmented reality payments was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.
Samsung rolls out NFC P2P payments in the US 20 Jun 2:19 AM (4 months ago)
Samsung Galaxy owners in the US can now transfer funds directly to a contact’s bank account by just tapping their two phones together — or by simply bringing the recipient’s contactless bank card into close proximity.
“Samsung Wallet’s new feature, Tap to Transfer, enables you to send money to your friend’s or family member’s bank account associated with their debit card — even if they use Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Just tap phones and they’ll be sent the funds within minutes,” Samsung says.
“It’s the first ever feature that allows you to send funds to another user’s debit card or smartphone, regardless of their wallet or operating system.”
“Through Samsung’s collaboration with Visa and Mastercard, you can use a debit card stored in your Samsung Wallet to send money to friends and family members’ bank accounts without needing to download an additional app.
“Instead, Samsung Wallet uses NFC technology to connect to the recipient’s debit card stored in their digital wallet. Plus, you can even transfer money to people without a digital wallet as long as they have a physical debit card with tap-to-pay capabilities.”
“It works by Samsung Wallet connecting to the chip in their debit card, just like when paying in a store. If you want to send money to a Samsung Wallet but they aren’t nearby, you can easily find their Samsung account by searching their phone number and completing the transfer remotely.”
“Whether you’re paying a friend back for buying group tickets or sending them your portion of the dinner bill, stressing over how to pay for shared expenses is a thing of the past. Now, funds arrive within minutes, meaning you no longer need to wait for funds to transfer between bank accounts — all it takes is a tap to transfer.”
Samsung rolls out NFC P2P payments in the US was written by Sarah Clark and published by NFCW.