Merchant

Android Wear introduced a new version of its technology earlier this year.

The deal will help First Data compete in the fast-growing "integrated payments" space as payment processors race to diversify products, markets and technology.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have grown rapidly in the past year, prompting more mainstream acceptance.

Voice-based payments are part of the "instant gratification" consumers will expect from payment and financial services companies, writes Hicham Tahiri, a Paris-based fintech entrepreneur.

Digital payment brands like Venmo are achieving scale quickly by recognizing that no one wakes up thinking they need to make a transaction. They really focus more on what they have to pay for, according to CO-OP Financial Services' Shazia Manus.

Omni Air International recently completed a test of technology from Infinite Peripherals that aims to modernize the sales of in-flight meals, drinks and retail products. The system is an airline edition of Infinite's omni-channel InfineaRetail software.

Neither the acquirer processing the payment, nor relevant regulatory bodies ever know that these payments are actually for illicit goods, making transaction laundering particularly dangerous and far-reaching, writes Ron Teicher, CEO of EverCompliant.

With the holiday shopping season, there is an inevitable dark side — an increase in transactions means an increase in fraud. This is to some extent the cost of doing business; fraud will always be a percentage of overall transaction volume.

Along with crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending, cryptocurrency can improve access to payments, credit and other financial services for SMEs, writes Eugene Green, CEO and founder of WishFinance.

With the wide-scale adoption of mobile phones, and the use of NFC and QR codes for payments, the card brands most likely see a threat to their business model and, in a defensive move against potential disruptors, are wisely embracing the spirit of mobile, writes Jeremy Gumbley, CTO at Creditcall.