The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web:
Mercedes-Benz delivery
It's not unheard of for companies to pair delivery services with other functions, such as Walmart's program of having employees drop off orders during their evening commute. Mercedes-Benz wants to pair a delivery service with a taxi service.
Its concept vehicle, called Vision Urbanetic, is an autonomous modular vehicle with separate components for people and packages,
Though the vehicle is only a concept, it's another sign that tech companies are getting creative with how to handle digital payments and shopping. On Monday, Visa announced
Payments in a ring
The concept of a payment-enabled ring isn't new, but it isn't quite as common as putting payments tech in smartwatches and wristbands. Motiv is planning to change that.
Motiv's fitness ring will get payment capabilities via a software update in the second half of 2019,
Other companies, such as
Google Pay glitch
An update T-Mobile pushed out to OnePlus 6T handsets caused issues that stopped Google Pay from working,
The update removes the devices' Play Protect certification, which Google Pay requires, the article states. T-Mobile announced the update over the weekend and began pushing it out widely on Tuesday.
Cleaning up
China Mobile is trying to drum up interest in blockchain and connected appliances by tying it to a basic household task that's more familiar to consumers.
The telco's internet of things division has build a water purifier that will collect user data, and will also reward consumers with a blockchain token for using the product, reports
The purifiers are being sold through a crowdfunding campaign on JD.com, which has a goal of raising about $30,000 by Jan 21.
From the Web
The Business Times | Tue January 8, 2019 - Singapore-based users of Singtel's mobile payments platform Dash will be able to send money to Myanmar by March, thanks to a new grant agreement between the telco and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
South China Morning Post | Tue January 8, 2019 - Most of the world’s central banks are proceeding cautiously in developing digital currencies, with little likelihood of any of them issuing a sovereign currency for wholesale settlement in the next three years, according to a survey by the Bank of International Settlements (BIS).
CBS | Tue January 8, 2019 - Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced Tuesday that he, along with the Attorneys General of 42 other states and D.C., have reached a settlement with the Neiman Marcus Group, LLC. Under the terms of settlement, Neiman Marcus agreed to pay $1.5 million and put in place a number of policies to resolve the multistate investigation into the 2013 breach of customer payment card data at 77 Neiman Marcus stores.
More from PaymentsSource
U.K.-based Nuggets is integrating its blockchain technology to existing payment rails, creating a system wherein merchants will no longer have to access or store consumers' personal data.
In spite of controversy surrounding Ripple’s digital token, one bank is pushing forward to use it in cross-border payments.
The country’s largest grocery retailer, Kroger, is partnering with Microsoft to pilot two connected experience stores for a proof of concept, featuring new retail technologies that will eventually be deployed across Kroger stores and be sold to the retail industry.
A director in the foreign-exchange department of American Express has been suspended, as the card brand continues to investigate pricing practices in that division of the company.
