Tag: australia nfc mobile payments

NFC may play a role in Apple’s future with mobile payments

| September 4, 2014

Apple could finally embrace NFC technology in the near future

Investment firm Morgan Stanley believes that Apple will finally embrace NFC technology through a platform called “iWallet.” This is not the first such prediction to be made concerning Apple and NFC, but past forecasts regarding the pairing have failed to live up to reality. Apple has avoided NFC largely because of its concerns regarding the technology’s security and capabilities, but this avoidance mostly involved Apple’s use of NFC in mobile payments.

NFC has come under fire in recent years due to technical problems and security issues

NFC currently forms the backbone of most mobile payments services throughout the world. The technology allows for digital information to be transmitted over short distances, making an ideal commerce tool. The technology does, however, have some security issues that have been exposed through high profile attacks on mobile services that make use of NFC. These security issues have made many consumers leery of mobile payments and has even lead some large companies, such as Google, to remove NFC support from some of their leading mobile initiatives.

Apple may be growing fonder of NFC technology

nfc mobile paymentsApple’s wireless endeavors have largely focused on iBeacon, which debuted last year and represents a sort of combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. Morgan Stanley predicts, however, that Apple is growing more confident in the abilities of NFC and the company could include the technology in future devices. As NFC sees more use, it is becoming more advanced and secure, making it more attractive to companies that have opted to take a cautious approach to the mobile payments space.

Apple would focus on security if it does choose to integrate NFC into future mobile devices

If Apple does embrace NFC technology, Morgan Stanley predicts that the company will focus on security. The company may choose to incorporate an NFC chip into future devices that works alongside a secure element that will store consumer financial information. The NFC chip would transmit this information when a payment is authorized by the device’s owner, using a fingerprint or other biometric information to authenticate the owner.

New mobile payments platform launched in Australia

| June 13, 2013

Mobile payments gain traction in Australia

As mobile commerce grows more popular around the world, new payment platforms are emerging in several markets. In Australia, mobile payments start-up FLASHiZ has announced its official opening in Sydney. The start-up has plans to launch its new mobile payments platform in the coming months in an effort to engage the growing number of mobile consumers in Australia. FLASHiZ aims to make mobile payments as accessible to consumers as possible and will be focusing on numerous tools to ensure that this is possible.

FLASHiZ puts QR codes and NFC tags to good use

FLASHiZ leverages both QR codes and NFC tags in order to facilitate mobile payments. NFC technology has long been a staple in mobile commerce and most modern mobile commerce platforms are based upon the technology and its capabilities. Not all mobile devices support NFC, however, which is why FLASHiZ also makes use of QR codes. The codes help facilitate mobile payments for those that do not have NFC-enabled mobile devices.

Australia Mobile Payments - NFC and QR CodesNew platform can help with loyalty programs

FLASHiZ expects that its mobile payments platform will be integrated into stores and other sectors in the coming months. The company’s software could serve a variety of purposes as it does not only involve mobile commerce. FLASHiZ notes that its software can be used to develop and manage loyalty programs designed to engage consumers that rely heavily on the smartphones or tablets.

FLASHiZ may be able to find success in mobile payments

Mobile commerce has been seeing modest growth in Australia recently, but the country is still considered an attractive market for this sector. Companies like FLASHiZ are becoming more common as demand for new mobile payments platforms grows. Larger companies have yet to find significant traction with consumers in this sector, which may provide FLASHiZ with an opportunity to find some degree of success in its endeavors.