Commonwealth Bank of Australia has done an Apple and rolled out a new set of mobile software, hardware and applications technologies for merchants enabling point-of-sale transactions.
The Australian bank has partnered with Wincor Nixdorf and Ideo to build a seven-inch Android-based tablet device called Albert, featuring an interactive touchscreen, secure EMV pin interface, printer, and merchant terminal functionality. Albert is complemented by CommBank Leo, which transforms iPhones and iPod Touch devices into fully-functioning merchant terminals.
The new devices, which set the bank against the likes of Square and Apple in the merchant hardware business, are supported by a new developer portal called CommBank PI, which provides a sandbox for custom-coding by merchants and third-party application developers. As with Apple, Commonwealth Bank is exerting tight control over the ecosystem, with all apps subject to approval before they are released for use.
As part of the roll-out, the bank has also developed a range of CommBank PI applications, including the ability to split the bill between multiple people and payment methods.
Exclusive to CommBank, the Pi solution is a unique and powerful platform for business, enhancing face-to-face customer interaction at point of sale, while offering secure payments. You can register your interest at http://www.commbank.com.au/pi
CommBank's ambitions extend beyond its own shores, with the bank intent on pushing the hardware to the wider Asia Pacific market and Wincor Nixdorf covering the rest of the world.
Thursday, 19 July 2012
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Standard Bank’s new ‘Youth Focused’ student branch
South Africa’s Standard Bank wanted a new branch design to serve a new generation of banking customers. They set out to create a sleek, slick, urban and open space, with modern design and contemporary stylings — a sophisticated yet relaxed environment. In other words, they wanted something hip and cool.
There are iPads, iPhones and iMacs sprinkled generously throughout the two-minute video Standard Bank produced to show off its new “youth focused” branch concept. “Customers can have some fun with free access to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.”
There are iPads, iPhones and iMacs sprinkled generously throughout the two-minute video Standard Bank produced to show off its new “youth focused” branch concept. “Customers can have some fun with free access to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.”
RBS and NatWest ATM cash withdrawals go cardless via mobile banking app
Customers of UK banks RBS and NatWest can now ditch their debit cards for their mobile phones. Using a new mobile banking app, customers of these two banks can use the ‘GetCash’ service to draw cash from ATMs without needing a debit card.
Through the app RBS and NatWest customers who request cash receive a 6-digit pin on their mobile. This code can be entered at an ATM, and once the amount of cash requested has been confirmed, funds are dispensed.
Customers using the service can choose an amount from £10 to £100 that they would like to withdraw from within the app. The secure cash code or Pin that is generated is valid for 3 hours and can be used at any RBS, NatWest or Tesco cash machine to withdraw the cash. Customers can use this cash code directly or text it to someone else, such as a spouse, friend or offspring.
RBS and NatWest already offers an emergency cash service for customers who lose their debit cards. For customers enrolled for online banking access they can draw up to £300; non-registered clients can get up to £60 to tide them over. RBS and NatWest say that nearly 60,000 customers have already used this service in 2012.
The ‘GetCash’ mobile app is just taking the emergency cash service one step further. “After positive feedback we’re extending the availability of this service to the 2.4 million customers who already have the RBS and NatWest banking app on their phone,” the RBS said in a statement.
Through the app RBS and NatWest customers who request cash receive a 6-digit pin on their mobile. This code can be entered at an ATM, and once the amount of cash requested has been confirmed, funds are dispensed.
Customers using the service can choose an amount from £10 to £100 that they would like to withdraw from within the app. The secure cash code or Pin that is generated is valid for 3 hours and can be used at any RBS, NatWest or Tesco cash machine to withdraw the cash. Customers can use this cash code directly or text it to someone else, such as a spouse, friend or offspring.
RBS and NatWest already offers an emergency cash service for customers who lose their debit cards. For customers enrolled for online banking access they can draw up to £300; non-registered clients can get up to £60 to tide them over. RBS and NatWest say that nearly 60,000 customers have already used this service in 2012.
The ‘GetCash’ mobile app is just taking the emergency cash service one step further. “After positive feedback we’re extending the availability of this service to the 2.4 million customers who already have the RBS and NatWest banking app on their phone,” the RBS said in a statement.
Saturday, 14 July 2012
Forget cryptic passwords, use your voice instead!
The Siri-Like Service "Dragon ID" by Nuance is a voice authentication service that wakes up when it hears you speak. It can change accounts on a device based upon the voice of the person.
Dragon ID is an on-device mobile voice biometrics solution that lets you "forget" your passwords! Simply create a spoken password or passphrase for a more secure and convenient way to "wake-up" and access everything from smartphones to tablets to TVs.
Because Dragon ID is integrated into the device Operating System it will seamlessly work across applications such as wake-up, voice assistant, personalized settings on shared devices.
Soon all you'll have to do is just say "Hello Dragon" to quickly and securely turn on your smartphone or TV - or instantly launch your personalized home screen with favorite apps and content on a shared tablet or PC.
Dragon ID is an on-device mobile voice biometrics solution that lets you "forget" your passwords! Simply create a spoken password or passphrase for a more secure and convenient way to "wake-up" and access everything from smartphones to tablets to TVs.
Because Dragon ID is integrated into the device Operating System it will seamlessly work across applications such as wake-up, voice assistant, personalized settings on shared devices.
Soon all you'll have to do is just say "Hello Dragon" to quickly and securely turn on your smartphone or TV - or instantly launch your personalized home screen with favorite apps and content on a shared tablet or PC.
Friday, 6 July 2012
Project First aims at tracking financial services-related sentiment
Project First is a European Union-backed research effort to find a way of extracting and analysing financial services-related sentiment from social media networks. It has recently launched its first running prototype.
Launched in late 2010, the three year project aims to harness artificial intelligence to find information on the Internet that can then be used to support financial decision makers.
The research project is being involves a consortium including Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Boerse Stuttgart, Interactive Data b-next and the University of Hohenheim. They have a €4.6 million budget co-funded by the EU.
Unveiling their first working prototype at a conference in Milan, the consortium revealed that, applied to Twitter or textual data extracted from blogs, it is currently capable of extracting sentiment and relating it to stock price movements.
"Results indicate a strong positive relationship between sentiment and trading volume," say the group.
Additionally, by monitoring social chatter among market participants, the technology is said to be able to detect cases of financial market abuse, like attempts to manipulate prices through false information releases, a feature which could help improve supervisory and regulatory oversight.
A fully functional version of the system is expected to be released by the end of the project in September 2013.
Launched in late 2010, the three year project aims to harness artificial intelligence to find information on the Internet that can then be used to support financial decision makers.
The research project is being involves a consortium including Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Boerse Stuttgart, Interactive Data b-next and the University of Hohenheim. They have a €4.6 million budget co-funded by the EU.
Unveiling their first working prototype at a conference in Milan, the consortium revealed that, applied to Twitter or textual data extracted from blogs, it is currently capable of extracting sentiment and relating it to stock price movements.
"Results indicate a strong positive relationship between sentiment and trading volume," say the group.
Additionally, by monitoring social chatter among market participants, the technology is said to be able to detect cases of financial market abuse, like attempts to manipulate prices through false information releases, a feature which could help improve supervisory and regulatory oversight.
A fully functional version of the system is expected to be released by the end of the project in September 2013.
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Libor scandal “we need to take action against banking fraud”
UK Chancellor George Osborne outlines his plans in the House of Commons for rapid
changes to the laws surrounding banking, with more power to crack down on
those who break the law.
changes to the laws surrounding banking, with more power to crack down on
those who break the law.
Monday, 2 July 2012
Public Course Schedule for remainder of 2012
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