The first smartwatch in Google's Android Wear lineup supporting NFC payments will soon be available from South Korea’s LG, according to reports from Android Police and other sources.
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The news confirms a surge of rumors in recent months that various Android Wear products will soon be unleashed to support the payment features enabled in the Android Wear 2.0 software update. Though Google's Android Wear beat the Apple Watch to market, most of Google's smartwatch partners did not include NFC technology.
Numerous Android Wear products have been rumored to be in development for months, with rollout expected soon.
An LG Electronics Inc. Urban watch is displayed during the Google I/O Annual Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Google Inc. unveiled payment services, security upgrades and access to HBO movies and shows for its popular Android software, seeking to push back against growing competition from rivals such as Apple Inc. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
Artificial intelligence developments are stoking investor fears about software companies. Banks' limited exposure to the sector and general stability is proving attractive to investors.
Prosperity Bancshares finalizes the second of three acquisitions it's announced since July; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation appoints a new chief information security officer for its American operations; Huntington Bancshares, Third Coast Bancshares and Heritage Financial completed acquisitions; and more in this week's banking news roundup.
Fintech and crypto groups said in comment letters to the Federal Reserve that the proposed "skinny" master account is too limited and could keep firms dependent on banks. Banking groups asked for more time to comment.
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said in a speech Friday that long-term productivity gains brought on by artificial intelligence could compel the central bank to maintain higher rates to keep prices stable.