Wearable payments

Are chip implants really any different from Apple’s Touch ID, which has convinced countless iPhone and iPad users to scan their biometric traits to make it easier to unlock their mobile devices?

Large outdoor events were among the earliest proving grounds for mobile point of sale technology. Will this environment be as welcoming of digital currency?

Wearables are a clear evolution of the mobile wallet, but companies are still experimenting with use cases. Here are a few of the latest concepts.

The Token ring's approach is reminiscent of Amazon's Echo devices, which are bland monolithic speakers that can be loaded with "skills" to enable them to place calls, make purchases, activate light switches and tell jokes.

Universal Resort's launch of the TapuTapu band at its new Volcano Bay water park illustrates how much more a wearable can do when it is incorporated into the design of the park from the get-go.

The market for fitness trackers is saturated with generic products, and Fitbit needs to differentiate with devices that have capabilities beyond counting users' steps and tracking sleep.

While smartwatches drew a lot of the attention to wearable payments and the Internet of Things, in practice smartwatches just don't seem suitable for most transactions.

In-app payments via Apple Pay have been available with the ExxonMobil Speedpass+ app since last year, but this week the petroleum giant boosted the app to enable users to pay at the pump at 9,600 U.S. Exxon and Mobil stations via the Apple Watch.

Technology never stands still, and even the most successful mobile wallets in the market need to keep pace with the needs of consumers and merchants. A few are making changes that position them for new markets and platforms in the near future.

Biometric authentication has been around for a while, but companies are still finding new uses for it in payments and commerce. Here are some of the latest developments.