Wearable payments

Samsung and Curve are setting the groundwork for a return of smart rings and other devices that can turn top-of-wallet cards into a fashion accessory.

The timepieces are meant to appeal to consumers who are comfortable with wearable payments but prefer something simpler than a high-end smartwatch.

The pandemic may have served as a catalyst for rapid growth in contactless payments through wearable devices. It’s the combination of form and function, however, that will push wearable payments into further growth in 2021 and beyond, says Zeta's Bhavin Turakhia.

Walt Disney Co. has at least temporarily cut several reservation and incentive features tied to its closed loop payment system, revealing the complexities of mixing health guidance with tourism.

One banking-related highlight of the show was an announcement from HSBC and Google of a real-time conversation translator for Google’s nest hub.

Samsung's upcoming XCover Pro phone, which can accept contactless payments without add-on hardware, is the first of what Visa hopes will be many devices capable of natively handling NFC payments.

Despite the convenience wearable payments hold, there are still obstacles that remain. Some factors are cultural, such as cash usage, or even more deep seated in the human mind, such as concerns over security.

Going contactless has been a bigger challenge in New York because of the size and complexity of its transit systems.

In many nations, transit fare payments are seen as a key first step toward the adoption of mobile and wearable payments. In the Netherlands, this wasn't the case.

Nok Nok Labs and Apple are separately trying to improve authentication techniques as smartwatch payment options stack up.