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Braintree mobile payments to include Visa Checkout

Both PayPal and Visa announced that the credit card service would soon be available to the platform’s merchants.

Visa and PayPal have both announced that Braintree mobile payments using merchants will soon have access to Visa Checkout. Braintree is PayPal’s payment processing company catering to online companies. Some of the more notable brands using these mobile payments include Uber, Pinterest, Airbnb and Evenbrite.

With Braintree, merchants can accept a spectrum of different types of online payment options.

The Braintree mobile payments platform lets merchants accept transactions by way of a mobile app, online and in-store. Soon, it will also include Visa Checkout as an option. In this way, Visa cardholders will be able to make a payment to these merchants using any connected device. Visa Checkout is already being used by several online merchants including Walgreens, Best Buy and Starbucks.

A statement from the credit card company pointed out that Visa Checkout will bring familiarity to Braintree mobile payments.

Braintree mobile payments - Open Sign with VisaVisa senior vice president of digital solutions, Sam Shrauger, said “With the Visa card at the center of the payment experience, Visa Checkout brings familiarity and trust to digital shopping offered by Braintree’s customers — some of the most innovative merchants driving eCommerce and mCommerce today.” He also added that Visa is “thrilled” with their new partnership with Braintree and PayPal for improving the way credit cards work on any connected device.

Merchants in the United States will gain access to Visa Checkout through the Braintree SDK in early 2017. The seamless integration of that SDK makes it possible for merchants to enable new buying experiences and payment options. At the moment, there are 14 million consumer accounts with Visa Checkout as well as thousands of merchant accounts.

This new agreement between PayPal and Visa has arrived at a time when some of the heat has eased in the rivalry between the two companies. They announced a strategic partnership in July. That brought the largest global payment network together with the biggest digital payments network. With Braintree mobile payments there will be improved choice for consumers paying with PayPal accounts. The companies feel this is taking them both “on a new path.”

Augmented reality headset not unlike Google Glass to be designed by Snapchat

The popular mobile app is reportedly working on its first ever hardware product which will provide AR.

Snapchat is reportedly in the midst of developing its first hardware offering in the form of an augmented reality headset. Reports have stated that it will arrive in the form of AR glasses that will be comparable to the HoloLens from Microsoft or even Google Glass.

As of yet, Snapchat has yet to officially confirm that it is indeed pursuing this type of device.

At the same time, more fuel was added to the fire behind the claim that Snapchat was coming up with an augmented reality headset following a recent move. The disappearing photo app joined the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. That is a wireless technology industry body. It suggests that, at the very least, Snapchat is working on a device of some kind.

Augmented Reality headset - Snapchat Logo with GlassesMoreover, this would not be Snapchat’s first foray into the world of augmented reality technology. It has already added a spectrum of new filters – called Lenses – within its mobile app.

The augmented reality headset would take the experience beyond accessorizing selfies.

While the Lenses make it possible to add drawings, masks and other kinds of alterations and accessories to photos, the device would take digital enhancements beyond pictures. The company would be able to take a similar concept to Lenses and apply it to wearable technology. It would be possible without needing to look at a smartphone screen.

The company has also reportedly been hiring from augmented reality departments of large tech firms. These include Google, Logitech and even Nokia. While there has been some interest in AR expressed by Apple, Google, Facebook and Microsoft, none of these giants have yet to launch a successful product based on that tech.

Google had a limited launch of its Google Glass wearable technology, having unveiled it in 2012. However, it halted its sales only three years later in part because of the criticism it drew regarding its hefty price and certain usage habits. For instance, drivers were being pulled over for being behind the wheel while wearing it. People were being questioned by police when wearing them into movie theatres. Moreover, the general public disliked the fact that they could be filmed by a wearer without knowing it.

In 2014, Snapchat acquired an augmented reality headset product making company called Vergence Labs. Ahead of the acquisition, the company launched a fashionable glasses range called Epiphany Eyewear which can record up to 32GB of footage and store it.