Mobile payments

Volkswagen Financial Services has acquired PayByPhone, a Canadian parking payment provider, for an undisclosed amount.

It’s been more than a year since Michael Abbott, former CEO of the ill-fated mobile wallet venture Softcard, moved on. Behind him is five years and millions of dollars spent by the major U.S. mobile network operators — and a wealth of experience that can benefit anyone looking to do better mobile payments' next chapter.

Carrier billing provider Boku says it has expanded its agreement with Microsoft to provide services for the first time in France to all Windows 10 devices on the Orange France network.

Though cash remains the most prevalent form of payment in Africa, some companies are setting the wheels in motion for a much-anticipated e-commerce revolution.

A Seattle virtual currency provider is embedding its service in Starbucks' popular mobile app.

The path to success is almost never smooth, and many well-known companies have made expensive mistakes along the way. Here are some of the ideas that are no longer around but may never be forgotten.

Bluetooth beacons, which communicate with consumers' apps as they enter and leave stores, have been bouncing around the retail industry for a few years looking for the right combination of foot traffic, product and customer experience.

Banks are often taken for granted in digital wallets, treated as a "dumb pipe" for funding another account. PayPal is working to provide a more welcoming atmosphere with deals recently announced with Citigroup, FIS and two other banks.

Bank of America's forthcoming mobile app update will include personal financial management features.

Payments are inevitably merging with social media, but the mix comes with a clear and very public risk if not handled correctly.