Posts tagged NFC payment technology
Have you met the AIRTAG Kit?
Dec 4th
Everyone at AIRTAG has been very excited about the launch of the AIRTAG Kit. Today, we are reminding everyone of this unique set of tools, with the official launch of the AIRTAG Kit in France. The AIRTAG Kit is a fastand easy way to 
develop a MasterCard PayPass Wallet Application using MasterCard’s recently released Mobile User Interface Software Development Kit (MMPP UI SDK) now available free for download via the MasterCard Developer Zone. The AIRTAG Kit contains the necessary hardware, tools and support to successfully complete your PayPass Wallet App development. It’s cost effective, easy to use and simplifies the MasterCard certification process.
What’s in the Kit? The Kit includes, the latest generation NFC Samsung Galaxy S3 with 3 pre-installed white label apps including a wallet, a USB Contactless Card Reader, 5 UICC samples, 2 demo tags, and a 1 year membership to the Developer Program. The Developer Program provides the ability to ask our own AIRTAG developers additional questions, support for issues you may have with the UI SDK or the AIRTAG Kit, additional resources; user guides for the MMPP UI SDK and the AIRTAG Kit, tutorials, manuals, payment scheme support and support for additional Smartphone platforms as they become available. These resources provided in the Developer Program are used by our own AIRTAG developers to build mobile payment & wallet apps. Where else would you be able to get ongoing support from a group of NFC Mobile Payment experts at such a low cost? More >
AIRTAG thoughts on the benefits of online NFC payments
Nov 14th
A recent statement that caught the AIRTAG teams attention was MasterCard’s announcement last week of a new partnership with ING to offer online payments as part of the PayPass based platform 
in the Netherlands. PayPass more than a service but a platform, includes an online payment system, branded services and an API giving developers a tool to integrate PayPass into many different systems. MasterCard’s and ING’s PayPass online payments will offer shoppers enhanced security, the ability to apply coupons and vouchers to their purchases and receive digital receipts. According to a new study by AOL and BBDO 40% of purchases from Smartphone devices occur from home, the couch or anywhere else. Now MasterCard will offer those shoppers an even easier way to pay from anywhere. With PayPass online payments, there are two possible Customer Journeys;
Customer Journey #1: Merchandise selected, Payment method selected, Shipping details are entered and Pin is entered (The phone will supply EMV compliant cryptogram to communicate directly with the retailers payment terminal)
Customer Journey # 2: Shopping is started on a tablet, Products selected, Billing information entered, QR Code is sent. The user would then tap their Smartphone on the tablet to make the payment, connecting the PayPass app directly with the merchants shopping cart
This new pilot is part of MasterCard’s initiative to offer “converged payments experiences, in-store, online or a mobile device.” (MasterCard Press Release) With the approach of the holidays consumers now more than ever are mobile shopping and showrooming for convenience and to maximize savings. It’s great to see MasterCard proactively responding to consumer behavior changes by offering easier ways to pay when Mobile Shopping both in-store or anywhere else.
AIRTAG is happy to announce the launch of the AIRTAG Kit.
Oct 18th
AIRTAG is very excited to have announced yesterday, the launch of the AIRTAG Kit; a set of smart tools designed to make the deployment of NFC Mobile Payment applications easier and more accessible than ever. We have been working together with MasterCard for more than a year with a goal of providing something truly relevant and useful in today’s Mobile Payment marketplace. The AIRTAG Kit, is meant to be used alongside MasterCard’s recently released Mobile User Interface Software Development Kit (MMPP UI SDK), and together they are the best way to develop your Mobile PayPass™ app.
What exactly is in the AIRTAG Kit?
The Kit includes, the latest generation NFC Samsung Galaxy S3 with 3 pre-installed white label apps including a wallet, a USB Contactless Card Reader, 5 UICC samples, 2 demo tags, and a 1 year membership to the Developer Program.
Tell me more about the Developer Program?
First, let’s take a minute to introduce the AIRTAG team. The technical geniuses behind the operations at AIRTAG HQ includes 50+ experts in NFC, mobile app development, mobile marketing and mobile engineering. They develop Mobile applications, online platforms and NFC in-store readers and devices for brands like McDonald’s, MasterCard, Carrefour, Reebok, Dior, Casino, G20, Orange, NRJ Mobile and many others. A team with more than 6 years of experience. They are as expert in the field as it gets.
Through the Developer Program included in the AIRTAG Kit, you will have the ability to ask our own AIRTAG developers your additional questions in the AIRTAG Kit forum and get support for issues you may have with the UI SDK or the AIRTAG Kit. The Developer Program also provides additional resources; user guides for the MMPP UI SDK and the AIRTAG Kit, tutorials, manuals, payment scheme support and support for additional Smartphone platforms as they become available. These resources provided in the Developer Program are used by our own AIRTAG developers to build mobile payment apps. Where else would you be able to get ongoing support from a group of NFC Mobile Payment experts at such a low cost?
AIRTAG’s CEO and Co-founder Jérémie Leroyer had a few words to share with Venture Beat’s journalist John Koetsier, on the AIRTAG Kit and our ongoing partnership with MasterCard. “The Airtag kit is the second part of our partnership with MasterCard, and contains all of the hardware and software needed to build and test PayPass apps, including resources for the developer community.”
The AIRTAG team would be very happy to answer any additional questions that you may have, so please get in touch, by visiting www.airtagkit.com or by following us on Twitter: @airtag
Learn more about MasterCard’s Mobile UI SDK
Flexibility a key for mobile payment growth
Jun 22nd
Source: MODO News
“The future for NFC (Near Field Communication) looks very bright. Analysts have predicted that by 2015, one in two mobile phones will be NFC-enabled and that NFC will facilitate transactions worth $74 billion.” (Chung, MoDo News)
Yet, a question that still seems to be cycling around the NFC grid is all of the possible reasons why NFC success is being held back. The possible reasoning for road blocks seems to be somewhat circular; phones are not equipped with NFC technology, retailers are not equipped with NFC ready POS equipment and the question remains of how consumers really feel about the service.
Yet, in the last few weeks more mobile operators have announced NFC ready devices and plans for Wallet systems. Just a few days ago Microsoft announcing their Window’s 8 Phone to be equipped with NFC technology, along with the Microsoft Wallet as part of a strategy for outstanding the competition.
While we anxiously await a wider spread deployment of NFC ready retailers and devices, it is interesting to consider how those in the mobile payments industry can influence and encourage consumer support of the technology. Hwan Chung, CEO at Danal Europe has some interesting thoughts.
Acknowledging that most people do not have handsets capable of contactless payments, and that the stores that accept NFC payments are few and far between, Chung positively comments that there are some operators that are starting to make notable leaps advancing the industry as a whole.
“We’re starting to see mobile operators like O2 in the UK, and Rogers Communications in Canada, announce plans to enable NFC payments. This is backed up by payment providers like Visa and PayPal, who are also getting in on the act.” (Chung)
Chung emphasizes that whilst this is great, it is important that consumer flexibility be strongly considered because customers will want to take the reins in terms of deciding how they pay for purchases.
“Little has been done to provide customers with the flexibility that they want to make payments – and that’s the main issue holding back the industry, not concerns about security or service availability.” (Chung)
Within the mobile payment industry it is important that there is a certain level of understanding that consumers do not want to be ordered to do things a certain way and the early stages of the mobile payment industry should focus more on offering new purchasing channels (with encouragement to try them of course) and then letting the consumer decide.
“If operators and payment providers continue to dictate how mobile payments are made, NFC will remain on the starting blocks.” (Chung)
Read more from MoDo News
Read more about the Microsoft Windows 8 Phone
Relevant and Innovative: PayPal announces new POS solutions
May 31st
Last month PayPal unveiled its PayPal Payment solution which allows retailers to provide online and offline payments with a PayPal compatible POS system. Among the brands that will feature this service are: Abercrombie & Fitch, Advance Auto Parts, Aéropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, Barnes & Noble, Foot Locker, Guitar Center, Jamba Juice, JC Penney, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Nine West, Office Depot, Rooms To Go, Tiger Direct and Toys “R” Us. The large variety of brands adopting this technology emphasizes that in-store solutions are for retailers of all products and sizes.
PayPal’s solution ensures retailers do not need to install any complicated equipment, instead because PayPal has signed contracts with POS manufacturers Ingenico and more recently a contract signed with both VeriFone and Equinox, “the number one and number three point-of-sale terminal manufacturers in the world,” (David Marcus, President of PayPal writes on the company blog) ensures the technology is already integrated by the POS manufacturer.
PayPal emphasizes the need for retailers to engage with their customers at every point in the journey, or risk becoming irrelevant. The features of PayPal’s solution are that it provides customers with a better shopping experience, extends loyalty programs and allows retailers to engage and connect with clients on multiple channels.
“PayPal’s offline solutions are much more than just a way to pay. We’re helping merchants connect with consumers at every stage in the shopping cycle. Before they come into the store, while they’re in the store, or even after they’ve left. We’re able to drive consumers through a retailer’s doors with relevant offers, coupons and discounts, then maintain a relationship with that consumer that keeps bringing them back to the retailer, in store or online.” (David Marcus, PayPal Blog)
Read more about the features of the PayPal offline/POS solution
Read more about Mobile Shopping Solutions
Canada is at the top, in terms of market readiness for NFC payment technology
May 21st
All you have to do is “Tap & Go”…
In the next few months there will be an increase in the number of credit card and telecommunications companies enabling NFC payment technology for various Smartphones. In terms of market readiness for the “Tap & Go” payment feature, Canada is at the top of the list.
It’s no surprise though, because Canada has the right audience for this type of technology as Canadians are among the highest number of Smartphone owners worldwide. There are in addition several signature Canadian brands that have already enabled this type of payment technology.
Canada is seen to be an optimistic market for credit card companies such as MasterCard, as the receptiveness of Canadian’s to this type of technology is well known.
“Over 10% of MasterCard transactions in Canada are contactless, just waiting for smartphone enablement,” Ed McLaughlin, MasterCard’s chief emerging payments officer, said last week at a presentation during the International CTIA Wireless show in New Orleans.
MasterCard has recently certified four blackberry models for the Canadian market including the Blackberry Bold 9900 and 9790 and the Blackberry Curve 9360 and 9380.
Read more about the development of NFC payments in Canada
Read the release of guidelines for NFC payments in Canada
Read more about NFC
