Author: BWild

Microsoft may release its Surface Smartwatch before the close of October

| October 31, 2014

There has been neither official confirmation of the device or its launch date, but many in the industry expect it.

The latest rumors about the Surface Smartwatch are suggesting that Microsoft could actually be released within the next week or so, making certain that it will have hit the market shelves in time for shoppers to snatch it up during the holiday season.

Speculations have been made about this wearable technology, suggesting that it will have a health focus.

That said, it is important to note that while there are many reports that read as though they are providing factual information about the Microsoft Surface Smartwatch, there have yet to be any official confirmations about the existence of the device itself, let alone its features or release date. Many in the industry that have made very accurate speculations in the past have been discussing various types of health sensors that could have been incorporated into the device, if it does indeed exist.

Some very reputable media sources have stated that the Surface Smartwatch will have certain impressive features.

Microsoft - Surface SmartwatchFor example, Forbes discussed a possible wearable technology device from Microsoft, saying that with regular use, it could continue to function for two days on a full charge, and that it should have a sensor that will allow the user’s heart rate to be tracked. The offering will likely provide cross platform capabilities and, if Microsoft manages to launch it during the next handful of weeks, it will provide a rival to the current products from Google and Samsung during the holiday shopping season.

It could also become competition for the Apple Watch, which is expected to launch at the beginning of next year, after the holiday shopping season has already fizzled out. As it will not be based on Android Wear, it will be in direct competition with other existing devices that are already using that platform.

However, the belief is that the Microsoft Surface Smartwatch will still be able to function with nearly any smartphone, which means that it will not be limited exclusively to mobile devices that operate on the Windows mobile operating system.

Mobile payments take off in Europe and drag in North America

| October 28, 2014

It is clear that the adoption of this type of smartphone based transaction still has a long way to go.

A recently released study has now revealed that it is Europe that currently holds the top spot for the adoption of mobile payments, while at the same time, North America appears to be lagging behind the rest of the world in this same category.

This study was conducted during the period up to the point in which Apple Pay was launched in the U.S.

This study was conducted by a payment technology company based in Amsterdam called Ayden. The report on the research was included in its Q3 Mobile Payments Index. The data that was considered within this report runs up to the point at which Apple Pay rolled out in the United States. This could mean that from that point forward, the situation may change if it does turn out that the estimated 10 million Americans who have devices compatible with that service decide to actually use it.

Some believe that the awareness of mobile payments, alone, will start to improve its use in North America.

Mobile Payments - Up in Europe & Down in North AmericaAccording to the report, mobile devices made up 23.3 percent of all of the online payments that were completed within the three month span that finished on September 30. This represents a growth in the worldwide use of these transactions of a sizeable 21.4 percent when compared to the quarter beforehand, which closed at the end of June. Among all of the various regions that were considered within this report, Europe was at the very top of the adoption of this technology.

Smartphone payments in Europe made up 24 percent of all of the mobile based transactions in the world. Asia came in second by contributing 17 percent of those transactions. That said, it was Asia that was seen as the most rapidly growing in terms of adoption and use of these digital payments. Its year over year growth rate was recorded to be 58 percent, said the report.

North America was at the other end of the scale. It sat at 16.7 percent of the total mobile payments around the world, and remained pretty much unchanged in that figure when compared to the previous quarter.