Digital Transactions Authoritative, insightful and timely information for payments professionals
In payments-industry circles, the Federal Reserve System’s triennial Payments Study is one of the most eagerly awaited documents to come out of Washington. The sweeping study tracks the use of credit, debit, and prepaid cards, checks, and other non-cash payment methods. For its next survey, due out in about a …
Read More »The U.K.’s Yoyo Wallet Hopes Soon To Be Walking a Big Dog in U.S. Mobile Payments
By John Stewart While many observers might argue the U.S. payments market has plenty of mobile-wallet entries for the time being, a U.K. startup called Yoyo Wallet figures there’s room for one more. London-based Yoyo, which launched with university cafeterias nearly two years ago and has expanded to catering operations …
Read More »Mobile Payments Poised for 62% Growth in 2016, Says eMarketer
2016 could be an auspicious year for mobile payments growth. That’s if a forecast from eMarketer Inc. proves correct. The New York-based research firm predicts that the number of consumers making mobile payments at the point of sale with smart phones will hit 37.5 million in 2016, a 61.6% increase …
Read More »Despite Observers’ Doubts, Wal-Mart Says Walmart Pay Won’t Weaken Ties to MCX
By John Stewart Thursday’s surprise announcement by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. that the retailing titan will roll out its own mobile-payment service next year raises questions about its commitment to Merchant Customer Exchange LLC (MCX), the mobile-wallet consortium that Wal-Mart helped launch three years ago. Starting this month, Wal-Mart will begin …
Read More »A Peek at One Processor’s Early EMV and Mobile Transactions Yields Some Surprises
An analysis of recent credit and debit card transaction data by credit-union services organization The Members Group gives some interesting insights about the penetration of two new payment channels in the U.S.—EMV chip cards and mobile payments. For example, EMV transactions amounted to 26% of all transactions that TMG processed over …
Read More »Groceries, Drug Stores, C-Stores Yawn at Mobile Payments, Focus on E-Commerce
By John Stewart What kind of technology are grocery stores, drug stores, and convenience stores most interested in? Not mobile payments, at least not right now. That’s the conclusion of the Los Angeles-based Center for Advancing Retail & Technology LLC, which operates an online marketplace of retail solutions for merchants …
Read More »What’s in Your (Digital) Wallet? Chances Are, At Least One Proprietary Card
By John Stewart Ever since the launch of Apple Pay more than a year ago, mobile wallets have followed a pattern of recruiting financial institutions to enable their network-branded credit and debit cards to work in the wallet apps. But retailers are getting in on this action, as well, with …
Read More »Holiday Mobile Payments Predicted To Grow 47%, With All E-Commerce Up 14%
Powered by growth in mobile payments, so-called digital commerce for 2015’s holiday season will grow 14.3% to $70.1 billion from last season’s $61.3 billion, Internet metrics firm comScore Inc. predicted Wednesday. Reston, Va.-based comScore defines digital commerce to include desktop e-commerce and mobile commerce. The firm predicts desktop e-commerce for …
Read More »Mum About the Details, MCX’s Mooney Hints at ‘Plans on the Table’ Beyond Chase Deal
By John Stewart Last month, the spotlight shone on Merchant Customer Exchange LLC when JPMorgan Chase & Co. officially unveiled its Chase Pay wallet, set to launch next year, and said it will be included in MCX’s merchant-controlled CurrentC application. But, as big as that deal is for MCX, the …
Read More »Forget the Checkout, Many Consumers Would Rather Pay in Line Than Wait in Line
By Kevin Woodward It’s that time of year when shopper impatience tends to flare, especially when scores of consumers are waiting in long checkout lines. According to a new survey from merchant-services provider Harbortouch, many consumers are willing to try something new to alleviate their displeasure with lines. A majority …
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