Research In Motion’s BlackBerry Bold 9900 (pictured) and BlackBerry Curve 9360 smart phones have become the first SIM-based NFC handsets receive MasterCard PayPass certification. According to RIM, any bank around the globe offering MasterCard PayPass technology can now deploy PayPass accounts directly to the SIM card on both smart phones, enabling owners to make contactless […]

MasterCard is teaming up with WestJet, a Calgary-based airline, to trial contactless PayPass payments for in-flight purchases, according to PaymentsSource. Scheduled to begin next month, the pilot will allow passengers on one WestJet route to tap and pay for drinks, snacks, meals or other merchandise using a contactless MasterCard credit or debit card. Eventually, the […]

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has unveiled its Kaching iPhone mobile banking and payments app, bringing mobile phone-based banking to its customers utilizing near field communication that will authenticate individual’s via facial recognition, according to an IT Wire article. A user’s authentication for accessing their accounts via their phone will utilize face recognition technology […]

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) has appointed a consortium to develop and deploy an interoperable NFC infrastructure and mobile payments system throughout Singapore. Expected to launch mid-2012, the service will enable Singapore residents to use their NFC-enabled phones to make contactless purchases at retail locations as well as in taxis. Eventually, the service […]

Australia’s Commonwealth Bank has developed a new mobile app that lets customers use their phones to tap and pay at the point of sale, as well as make peer-to-peer payments via email, contact info and even through Facebook. Built for Apple iPhone users, “Commbank Kaching” works in tandem with Wireless Dynamics’ attachable iCarte NFC module […]

Google is adding NFC support to its Google Maps app for phones running on the new Android 4.0 OS, aka “Ice Cream Sandwich.” According to GottaBeMobile, the update will likely incorporate Google’s recently revealed Android Beam feature, which allows users to share web pages, contact info and other media by simply tapping their phones together. […]

Oberthur Technologies, Visa Europe and Valitor have announced a partnership to launch Iceland’s first mobile contactless payment project. The partners will initially outfit some 1,000 select participants with Oberthur’s NFC-enable SIM card, which will be delivered through Iceland’s major mobile operators starting in January 2012. Participants will be able to load the SIM into their […]