NFC tags that include support for digital signatures can provide protection against counterfeiting and grey market goods right through the supply chain — from the factory, through the distribution chain to the retailer and the consumer — chip maker STMicroelectronics explains in a white paper now available to download from the NFCW Knowledge Centre. Supply

Passengers using the subway and local trains in the Italian capital city of Rome can now use their contactless bank card to pay for the journeys they make each day — and can also opt to use their card as a replacement for their monthly travel pass. The new Tap & Go service has been

Starbucks has introduced a branded contactless payment pen that customers in Japan can load with funds and then use to make payments at any FeliCa-compatible POS terminal. Starbucks Touch: The Pen uses ‘coffee brown’ ink, comes in a drip coffee machine-inspired design and costs ¥4,000 yen (US$37.02), including a pre-loaded credit balance of ¥1,000 (US$9.26).

PARTNER NEWS: NXP has launched a new chipset that combines a secure element, NFC and Ultra Wideband communications to make it possible for consumers to conduct secure transactions while “leaving their mobile devices in their back pockets”. The announcement follows the news that Apple has included an Ultra Wideband chip in its new iPhone 11

UK-based neobank Revolut has implemented a Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) system that lets customers use their mobile banking app to authenticate their contactless card as they get close to reaching the new contactless transaction limit, avoiding the risk of having their card declined when they next attempt to make an in-store purchase. “From 14 September,

Banks are at risk of losing up to 15% of global payments revenue, valued at US$280bn, due to “the growth of digital payments and competition from non-banks”, Accenture predicts — but they also have the opportunity to capture US$500bn in new payments-related revenues “if they adopt innovative business models”. Global payments revenue will grow at

UK-based neobank Monzo is to use app notifications to provide customers who have a contactless card transaction declined due to new Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements with the information needed for them to successfully complete their transaction. SCA forms part of the EU’s revised Payment Services Directive II (PSD2). It officially came into force across

While health applications continue to be the main consumer adoption driver for wrist-worn wearables, support for mobile payments “is also starting to become a mainstay,” according to new research from IDC. IDC’s definition of wrist-worn wearables includes smartwatches, basic watches and wristbands. Shipments reached 34.2m units in total during the second quarter of 2019, up

Apple’s iPhone 11 smartphones will come with a new chip that supports Ultra Wideband communications, opening up the potential for the devices to support a range of new proximity-based services including item tracking, keyless vehicle entry and mobile payments “The new Apple‑designed U1 chip uses Ultra Wideband technology for spatial awareness — allowing iPhone 11