Australia’s Commonwealth Bank has run a mobile-driven, augmented reality advertisement in key Australian markets. The advertisement, which was placed in a number of Australian newspapers, invited readers to download the bank’s 3D reader app which enabled them to explore “Cherryford Hill”, an interactive virtual town.
In this digital world, users can interact, move around and explore the features of the award-winning CommBank Property Guide app.
Pictures speak louder than words. See for yourself.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Visa shows off it vision of a Mobile Banking/ Payments future
Even though Visa’s vision was first released a year ago it is still worth watching. Many of the features they speak of still lie in the future. Exciting stuff.
M-PESA subscribers in Kenya can now receive mobile money transfers from Western Union in 45 countries, territories
Western Union has announced that clients can now send money directly to the mobile 'wallets' of Safaricom M-PESA subscribers in Kenya from 45 countries and territories - the first service of its kind in the world.
The expansion of the service to more than 80,000 Western Union Agent locations worldwide follows the successful debut of the offering from Western Union Agent locations and the westernunion.com website in the UK.
In the Middle East, the service is now available from 9 countries, including: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen. The service also is available in Pakistan.
The service rides on Western Union's worldwide network and trusted global "hub" for processing cross-border remittances. It also builds on the unprecedented success of M-PESA, a domestic mobile money transfer service in Kenya offered by Safaricom that has attracted more than 13.5 million customers since its launch in 2007.
"We are pleased to extend our service with Safaricom, and we look forward to adding additional functionality for M-PESA users in the near future," said Jean Claude Farah, Senior Vice President, Middle East and Africa, Western Union.
The service will allow people to visit one of more than 80,000 Western Union Agent locations in 45 countries and territories across the globe and send funds directly to the mobile "wallets" of M-PESA's 13.5 million subscribers. Funds are delivered generally in minutes.
The service will likely be welcomed by thousands of Kenyans working abroad. According to the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenyans living outside their home country sent $642m home in 2010 - up from the $609m sent home in 2009.
Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said, "Our customers are very proud of the revolutionary M-PESA service, and this partnership sees us pushing new boundaries to continue to keep Kenya at the forefront of the mobile world. Through this partnership, our customers and their friends and families will benefit from affordable, faster and more convenient international remittances, and the money is available to use straightaway for any M-PESA transaction, or can be withdrawn as cash at any of our 24,000 Safaricom agents."
Western Union offers the Mobile Money Transfer Service in the Philippines with Smart Communications and Globe Telecom; in Malaysia with Maxis; and in Canada with EnStream. Western Union also has agreements with other mobile operators and banks to introduce the service in the future.
The expansion of the service to more than 80,000 Western Union Agent locations worldwide follows the successful debut of the offering from Western Union Agent locations and the westernunion.com website in the UK.
In the Middle East, the service is now available from 9 countries, including: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen. The service also is available in Pakistan.
The service rides on Western Union's worldwide network and trusted global "hub" for processing cross-border remittances. It also builds on the unprecedented success of M-PESA, a domestic mobile money transfer service in Kenya offered by Safaricom that has attracted more than 13.5 million customers since its launch in 2007.
"We are pleased to extend our service with Safaricom, and we look forward to adding additional functionality for M-PESA users in the near future," said Jean Claude Farah, Senior Vice President, Middle East and Africa, Western Union.
The service will allow people to visit one of more than 80,000 Western Union Agent locations in 45 countries and territories across the globe and send funds directly to the mobile "wallets" of M-PESA's 13.5 million subscribers. Funds are delivered generally in minutes.
The service will likely be welcomed by thousands of Kenyans working abroad. According to the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenyans living outside their home country sent $642m home in 2010 - up from the $609m sent home in 2009.
Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said, "Our customers are very proud of the revolutionary M-PESA service, and this partnership sees us pushing new boundaries to continue to keep Kenya at the forefront of the mobile world. Through this partnership, our customers and their friends and families will benefit from affordable, faster and more convenient international remittances, and the money is available to use straightaway for any M-PESA transaction, or can be withdrawn as cash at any of our 24,000 Safaricom agents."
Western Union offers the Mobile Money Transfer Service in the Philippines with Smart Communications and Globe Telecom; in Malaysia with Maxis; and in Canada with EnStream. Western Union also has agreements with other mobile operators and banks to introduce the service in the future.
PNC Bank’s virtual Wallet App for iPhone & iPod Touch
PNC Bank has created a virtual wallet app that allows clients to access recent transactions, a calendar and the “money bar.” Account holders can tap and drag the interactive slider on the money bar to transfer money between accounts and then use the “roller” to fine-tune the amount. The virtual wallet app allows users to shake the phone to transfer money into her/his online piggy bank (PNC’s Virtual Wallet Growth Account). Day and month views on the calendar allow customers to check on transactions - where green dots indicate deposits, orange dots represent withdrawals and red bars warn of danger days. Bills can be paid using a graphical interface. Another feature allows for easy searches of ATMs or bank branchs.
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Bank branch of the future
In recent weeks we have featured quite a few “concept” branches that banks are unveiling around the world. Now the National Bank of Greece jumped on the bandwagon with its concept i-branch.
The National Bank of Greece (NBG) is opening this technology-heavy concept branch in Athens designed to showcase its electronic services.
According to NBG the i-bank gives "e-banking true physical form" claims, with staff providing information and assistance relating to online and mobile services.
The branch which is chockfull of screens has a lounge area with a virtual sky and vertical garden. The interactive zone is equipped with augmented reality applications and electronic games.
The branch also provides customers with educational workshops, presentations, video conferencing and free WiFi. There are plenty of other incentives too such as a free i-bank club card that gives members access to sweepstakes, discounts and invitations to various events NBG is planning at the branch.
The National Bank of Greece (NBG) is opening this technology-heavy concept branch in Athens designed to showcase its electronic services.
According to NBG the i-bank gives "e-banking true physical form" claims, with staff providing information and assistance relating to online and mobile services.
The branch which is chockfull of screens has a lounge area with a virtual sky and vertical garden. The interactive zone is equipped with augmented reality applications and electronic games.
The branch also provides customers with educational workshops, presentations, video conferencing and free WiFi. There are plenty of other incentives too such as a free i-bank club card that gives members access to sweepstakes, discounts and invitations to various events NBG is planning at the branch.
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Intuit’s “GoPayment” for Android is challenging Square
In this short video we take a look at a demo of Intuit's “GoPayment” mobile payment solution for Android. The device allows you to use your Android phone to accept credit cards anytime, anywhere.
Federal Reserve spells out mobile payments success path
The extent to which mobile payments will succeed in the US depends on an open, interoperable infrastructure based on near field communications technology (NFC), according to a paper published recently by both the Atlanta and Boston Federal Reserve banks.
The paper, which was drafted by the banks' research teams following the creation of a mobile payments industry workgroup, sets out what they call the "foundational components" for an m-payments environment defined as an "open mobile wallet".
The authors say this would likely be based on contactless technology in smartphones and payment terminals and tap existing channels such as the ACH network. They also stress that some form of dynamic data authentication will need to be at the heart of a security and fraud mitigation program.
Standards would be designed, adopted, and complied with through an industry certification program to ensure both domestic and global interoperability, including a standard to ensure that devices used for mobile payments do not create any electronic interference problems.
The paper suggest that a "better understanding of a regulatory oversight model should be developed in concert with bank and non-bank regulators early in the effort". Trusted Service Managers should oversee the provision of interoperable and shared security elements used in the phone.
However, the group stopped short of recommending a specific industry "roadmap", deciding complexity of the environment and diversity of participants could stifle innovation.
With banks, card firms, telcos, handset manufacturers, retailers, processors and technology providers all bidding to cash in on a potentially huge market, the issue of interoperability is key.
To read (or download) the paper visit the Atlanta Fed at
http://www.frbatlanta.org/documents/rprf/rprf_pubs/110325_wp.pdf
The paper, which was drafted by the banks' research teams following the creation of a mobile payments industry workgroup, sets out what they call the "foundational components" for an m-payments environment defined as an "open mobile wallet".
The authors say this would likely be based on contactless technology in smartphones and payment terminals and tap existing channels such as the ACH network. They also stress that some form of dynamic data authentication will need to be at the heart of a security and fraud mitigation program.
Standards would be designed, adopted, and complied with through an industry certification program to ensure both domestic and global interoperability, including a standard to ensure that devices used for mobile payments do not create any electronic interference problems.
The paper suggest that a "better understanding of a regulatory oversight model should be developed in concert with bank and non-bank regulators early in the effort". Trusted Service Managers should oversee the provision of interoperable and shared security elements used in the phone.
However, the group stopped short of recommending a specific industry "roadmap", deciding complexity of the environment and diversity of participants could stifle innovation.
With banks, card firms, telcos, handset manufacturers, retailers, processors and technology providers all bidding to cash in on a potentially huge market, the issue of interoperability is key.
To read (or download) the paper visit the Atlanta Fed at
http://www.frbatlanta.org/documents/rprf/rprf_pubs/110325_wp.pdf
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