Google Wallet, a new near-field communications (NFC) based payment system created by Google in partnership with MasterCard and a number of additional partners, is now available on Sprint’s Nexus S 4G. Google Nexus S users on AT&T and T-Mobile are left out in the cold for now. MasterCard confirmed that an over-the-air update is being pushed to the Nexus S 4G on Monday that will automatically install the Google Wallet app. Once it is installed, users can enter in their MasterCard information and use their Nexus S 4G to make tap-and-go payments at 300,000 PayPass locations around the world. Initial users will receive a $10 bonus on their Google Prepaid MasterCard accounts for being an early adopter, too. Google also announced on Monday that Visa, Discover and American Express have provided their NFC specifications so that those payment options can be added to Google Wallet in the future. Read on for a quick video of Google Wallet in action.

Read

Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile have made a $100 million investment in ISIS, a joint venture created by the three carriers to fuel the growth of mobile payments. The investment has been largely viewed as an attempt to bolster ISIS’ business to better compete against Google and its own mobile payment system, Google Wallet. “Over the long haul, operators have to create new businesses that derive value from more than access,” wireless analyst Chetan Sharma told Bloomberg. “It’s a given that people are going to be transacting more over cell phones. It could open a potential new revenue stream for them.” Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T formed ISIS in November of last year and hope, by partnering, the carriers can launch a competitive nationwide mobile payment network that utilizes near-field communications. In June, American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa announced a partnership with ISIS. MasterCard has also teamed up with Google and Sprint on Google Wallet. ISIS is currently being tested in Salt Lake City and Austin, and while the joint venture plans to bring those networks live in mid-2012, ISIS has not yet announced a national rollout plan.

Read

Thanks to royalty payments from awards related to patent complaints against HTC, Microsoft is estimated to have made three times more revenue from sales of HTC’s Android phones than it did from sales of Windows Phone licenses last quarter. Asymco analyst Horace Dediu estimated this past May that Microsoft had made five times more money from HTC’s Android phones than its own Windows Phone platform through the first quarter of this year. In the second quarter, Dediu says Microsoft made approximately $21 million from 1.4 million Windows Phone licenses at $15 a piece, while the company’s $5-per-device royalty from sales of 12 million HTC Android phones brought in $60 million in the quarter. Dediu’s numbers are based on Canalys’ Windows Phone shipment estimates and the 12.1 million handsets HTC says it shipped in the second quarter, though we’re not sure how the analyst determined that 12 million of those devices were Android phones. HTC also sells phones that run Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system and phones based on Qualcomm’s Brew MP platform.

Read

Deutsche Bank analyst Kai Korschelt on Tuesday estimated that Nokia stands to make a pretty penny off of royalty payments from Apple moving forward. Nokia announced early on Tuesday that it had reached an agreement with Apple regarding a series of patent disputes filed by each company over the past few years. Based on recent settlements tied to similar cases in the industry, Korschelt estimates that Apple will give Nokia a $608 million lump-sum payment up front. Following that initial payment, Apple will like pay Nokia a 1% royalty on all iPhones sold each quarter as a licensing fee. At Apple’s current pace — which has increased steadily rapidly since the iPhone first launched — that works out to approximately $138 million each quarter, or more than $550 million annually.

Read

Verizon Wireless announced a new partnership with Payfone on Monday that will soon allow its customers using phones, tablets, and PCs to make online purchases easier. Once the partnership’s new service is deployed, customers will be able to make more secure purchases online and charge them to their Verizon Wireless bill or use other standard forms of payment. “Our relationship with Payfone complements the part of the mobile payments equation we’re already working on with our Isis joint venture,” said Greg Haller, marketing vice president, Verizon Wireless. “We approach the mobile payments arena from a customer’s perspective. As we move forward, the most important goals will be security, privacy and simplicity. Through our relationship with Payfone, we will be able to quickly offer value to our customers by offering them greater choice and a simple, safe and secure purchasing experience when shopping online from their smartphones, tablets and PCs.” Hit the jump for the full press release.

VERIZON WIRELESS AND PAYFONE POWER NEW MOBILE PAYMENT SOLUTION

New Service Will Allow Verizon Wireless Customers to Make Mobile Payments for Online Purchases from Smartphones, Tablets and PCs

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and NEW YORK – Verizon Wireless and Payfone, a leading mobile payment processing service, today announced the companies are working together to bring a new mobile payment system to Verizon Wireless customers.  When available, the service will allow Verizon Wireless customers to make online purchases from their smartphones, tablets and PCs using numerous payment methods, including charging purchases to their monthly wireless statements or using traditional payment methods through financial institution partners.

“Our relationship with Payfone complements the part of the mobile payments equation we’re already working on with our Isis joint venture,” said Greg Haller, marketing vice president, Verizon Wireless.  “We approach the mobile payments arena from a customer’s perspective.  As we move forward, the most important goals will be security, privacy and simplicity.  Through our relationship with Payfone, we will be able to quickly offer value to our customers by offering them greater choice and a simple, safe and secure purchasing experience when shopping online from their smartphones, tablets and PCs.”

With Payfone’s unique approach to mobile payments, operators and merchants are able to complete transactions securely and accurately.  Payfone also provides other features important to consumers and merchants, including intelligent routing, pre-authorization and authentication designed to reduce the friction and fraud that affect sales conversion and revenue yield for merchants and operators.

“We are pleased to be working with Verizon Wireless to deliver a new level of convenience, security and flexibility to their customers and to boost revenue and conversion for operators, merchants and publishers,” states Rodger Desai, chief executive officer, Payfone. “This underscores Verizon Wireless’ dedication to cutting-edge innovation as it stays ahead of the mobile payments curve.”

HP is working on phones and tablets with built-in near-field communication (NFC) technology for mobile payments, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Much like Google Wallet, which will soon launch for the Nexus S and eventually other Android devices, HP hopes its customers will be able to use the company’s products to make mobile purchases in retail outlets. Similarly, HP has a plan to create an entire ecosystem where users will be able to to receive coupons or other benefits, such as loyalty points, from NFC-enabled advertisements. While sources told Bloomberg the products could launch by year-end, HP hasn’t been known to deliver new mobile devices to the market very quickly in the past. It’s also still unclear who the company’s mobile payment partners will be.

Read

Google may have just unveiled its preliminary plans to bring contactless mobile payments to the U.S., but mobile payments in using various technologies are prime to blow up in several other markets around the world as well. Swedish wireless analyst firm Berg Insight on Thursday issued a report on mobile money in emerging markets, and the group believes adoption will skyrocket over the next four years. In 2010 there were 133 million people in emerging markets who used their cell phones to move money or pay for goods and services. That number is set to grow an average of 40% each year to reach 709 million in 2015, the firm believes. Over that same period, the total value of mobile payment transactions will balloon from $25 billion in 2010 to $215 billion in 2015. “In developing regions such as Africa the mobile phone will become the primary digital channel for people to conduct financial services in the coming years,” said Telecom Analyst Lars Kurkinen. “Financial institutions are beginning to realize the importance of mobile phones to reach new clients viewing mobile money services as high-priority strategic projects. Also mobile operators and third party service providers are ramping up their efforts to target the huge unbanked populations in emerging markets.” Hit the break for Berg’s full release.

Berg Insight predicts 709 million mobile money users in emerging markets by 2015

Gothenburg, Sweden – May 26, 2011: According to a new research report by Berg Insight, the number of mobile money subscribers in emerging markets is forecasted to grow from 133 million users in 2010 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40 percent to reach 709 million users in 2015. The total value of mobile money transactions will simultaneously grow at a CAGR of 54 percent from US$ 25 billion in 2010 to US$ 215 billion in 2015. Asia-Pacific is expected to become the most important regional market, accounting for more than half of the total user base.

“In developing regions such as Africa the mobile phone will become the primary digital channel for people to conduct financial services in the coming years. Financial institutions are beginning to realize the importance of mobile phones to reach new clients viewing mobile money services as high-priority strategic projects. Also mobile operators and third party service providers are ramping up their efforts to target the huge unbanked populations in emerging markets”, said Lars Kurkinen, Telecom Analyst, Berg Insight. “The number of live mobile money services has thus grown at an explosive rate during the past two years and recently reached as many as 300 commercial deployments.”

The report also identifies mobile international value transfer as a high-growth market and an important revenue source for mobile industry players. Berg Insight estimates that US$ 16 billion worth of international money transfers will be received using mobile phones in 2015, up from less than US$ 1 billion in 2010. Berg Insight also forecasts that international airtime transfers will grow at a CAGR of 67 percent from US$ 130 million in 2010 to reach US$ 1.67 billion in 2015.

Google has been working on a mobile payment service for quite some time now, and the company is finally ready to take the wraps off of the first iteration of its contactless payment product. Google has been buying up talent — and someone spilled the beans this past Tuesday — so we can’t say the announcement is likely to come as much of a surprise. Yes, Google is expected to finally take the wraps off its Google Wallet service, which will use NFC-based technology to allow consumers to pay for goods with their cell phones. According to reports, Google’s preliminary pilot will launch in partnership with Sprint, utilizing the NFC-equipped Google Nexus S 4G, and it will be available in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. to start. Want to know more? So do we… and we’ll be reporting all the action as it unfolds right here in this post. Hit the break for our liveblog of Google’s press conference, which will start just before 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and don’t forget to refresh the page often for the latest updates!

11:44AM:Ok guys, we're inside and seated. Things look to be moving along well so hopefully we'll start on time in about 15 minutes.

11:52AM:Google hasn't confirmed anything since the event hasn't started yet, but we're surrounded by reps from various banks. 1 + 1 = ...

11:53AM:We've been asked to turn off our phones (and video recording isn't permitted). Things should get started in about 5 minutes.

11:55AM:Beyond Container Store, we've just confirmed that Subway is also going to be a launch partner for the Google Wallet service. Five dollar footlong, anyone?

11:59AM:Ok guys, Google's VP of Commerce is on stage to kick things off.

12:00PM:Google has just announced Google Wallet and Google Offers. The company has issued an open invitation to banks and retailers to partner on both services.

12:00PM:Google's offers and payment platforms will be open.

12:01PM:"Your phone will be your wallet. Just tap, pay and save."

12:02PM:Amazon and eBay started the eCommerce boom in the 90s, and the market will continue to grow as offline companies go online.

12:02PM:Over 70% of consumers transact online. Even still, eCommerce only accounts for 8% of total commerce.

12:03PM:Google is "about to embark on a new era of commerce," merging the offline and online worlds.

12:03PM:Mobile payments will grow four-fold between now and 2014.

12:04PM:...and Google hopes to be a driving force during that boom.

12:05PM:A Mastercard VP is on stage now, discussing the company's leadership in the NFC space. Mastercard was one of the first companies to begin trialling NFC in the US.

12:05PM:Over 300,000 merchant locations is the US are already compatible with Google's NFC-based services.

12:06PM:Over half of US mobile phone users have already used their phones to research and make purchases. That is why Mastercard is so excited to work with Google on Google Wallet and Google Offers.

12:07PM:Google's VP of Commerce is back now.

12:07PM:2011 will begin the age of "mobile local commerce."

12:09PM:Google's combination of services will apply coupons and discounts at the point of sale automatically. Very cool and effortless.

12:10PM:Google says it's just getting started and this is only beginning. Google is teaming up with Citi, Mastercard and Sprint on this initial offering, but more partrners are coming.

12:10PM:Google Wallet trials begin today, and the product will launch this summer.

12:10PM:By 2014, 150 million smartphones will be NFC enabled. This poses a tremendous opportunity for Google's partners.

12:11PM:For funding, Google Wallet currently supports multiple credit cards as well as a prepaid Google card.

12:12PM:The service is extremely secure — it works with Mastercard's paypass service and has a number of security measures.

12:12PM:Macy',s Subway, Walgreens and more will be retail partners right out the gate.

12:13PM:Google Offers, the second product being announced today, is exactly what it sounds like. Offers are delivered based on location and preferences, and the pilot will go live in Portland and New York initially.

12:14PM:Google Offers will also be integrated with a variety of existing Google Services.

12:15PM:Google Wallet will eventually support more than just credit cards. Osama Bedier, Google's VP of Payments is here to explain,

12:15PM:Google has announced a grand vision, but this is also a real product that is already up and running — not just an idea.

12:16PM:He's now demoing the service on stage.

12:16PM:The first thing you have to do when opening the app is attach it to a Google account and enter a PIN.

12:17PM:Next, you can add a credit card — obviously and important step — and then you're ready to go.

12:19PM:He's now covering the security involves with the initial provisioning process. First Data is Google's security partner.

12:19PM:Once a credit card is added, you can only use $100 until it is verified.

12:20PM:Users who don't want to add a credit card can use a Google Prepaid card, which can be funded outside of the Wallet app using any major credit card.

12:21PM:Google has enabled multiple cards in a single secure element, which is an industry first. Similar solutions can only be linked to one card.

12:22PM:A cool feature: Google Wallet functionality can work without even opening the app. It must be set up in preferences, but users will be able to pay with their phones without even opening the app. Very nifty.

12:22PM:A Google engineer is now on stage discussing security.

12:23PM:In terms of hardware, Google is using a secure NXP chip that includes multi-level security features on the hardware and software sides.

12:24PM:The NXP chip is only on (usable) when the Wallet app is unlocked to prevent unauthorized access and usage.

12:26PM:Now we're watching Google Offers in action. Offers can be added directly from a Google search and linked to your account. They'll then be applied to Google Wallet purchases automatically.

12:27PM:Google Wallet can also hold loyalty cards, such as supermarket cards or other store loyalty cards.

12:27PM:American Eagle, a launch partner, is now here to demo an actual transaction using a live POS.

12:29PM:One swipe of the Nexus S register's the loyalty card, any applicable offers or coupons, and the payment information.

12:30PM:Jonathan Wall, one of the founding engineers of this project is on stage now to discuss Google's one-tap functionality (which is also a first in the space).

12:31PM:Google's service will launch will gift cards, loyalty cards and more. Coming this fall, Google will also add a digital receipt feature to eliminate the need for paper receipts.

12:33PM:Another very cool feature: we're now seeing a demo with billboards, in malls for example, that have built-in NFC. A user with a Nexus S can walk by, tap the banner, and any related offers will be transferred to their Google Wallet.

12:34PM:Now we're watching a quick promo video Google put together that showcases some scenarios where the service can be used.

12:36PM:Google is reemphasizing its open invitation. This is just the beginning - Google wants banks, retailers and others to join in developing for this new open platform.

12:38PM:Google said credit cards, loyalty cards, etc are obvious. The company eventually wants users to be able to put everything they would put into a standard wallet into Google Wallet, digitally.

12:39PM:A Citibank VP is on stage now. Citi is proud to be the first bank to join Google on Google Wallet.

12:40PM:Digital money and mobile payments are hugely important to Citi. The bank is a global leader in payments - including digital.

12:42PM:Banking, technology and information are increasingly converging. Google Wallet provides Citi customers with a new, state of the art experience and Citi is proud to be at the forefront of this innovation.

12:43PM:Citi is announcing this collaboration for one reason: to help enhance and simplify the shopping experience for its customers.

12:44PM:We're just at the starting point of mobile payments' capabilities. Today's announcement will be looked at as the inflection point - this tech is going from concept to reality.

12:46PM:Ed McLaughlin from Mastercard is on stage now. "Mastercard is at the heart of commerce," and being involved with this project was imperative for the company.

12:46PM:Mastercard is leading the way in the design, standards and certification process for mobile payments.

12:47PM:NFC payments offer a fundamentally better experience, and consumers will never be able to go back once the try it.

12:48PM:Ed Labry, President of First Data is on stage now. He says the introduction of NFC payment systems integrated with mobile was an inevitability, it was just a question of who would innovate and bring it to market.

12:50PM:First data is one of the largest payment processing companies in the business. It processes 40 billion transactions each year.

12:51PM:80% of the POS systems in the US are provided by First Data, and 50% of transactions are processed by the company.

12:53PM:Farid Abib from Sprint is on stage now. (sorry, WiFi died briefly)

12:54PM:Adib is discussing Sprint's strong partnership with Google - with the Nexus S 4G, and even services, such as Sprint's unique Google Voice integration.

12:56PM:Sprint is excited to be one of the first carrier partners to be involved with Google Wallet. The carrier will work with its OEM partners in adding NFC to more devices, but the Nexus S 4G is the first phone to work with the platform.

12:56PM:The Nexus S 4G is one of Sprint's top-selling phones, Adib said.

12:58PM:We're wrapping things up now, it appears. We're going to watch a video featuring Google's retail partners that will be involved with Google Wallet from day 1. Subway, American Eagle, Walgreens, The Container Store, and more.

12:59PM:Retailers collectively seem excited about the product because of the cutting edge tech, but also because it simplifies the checkout process and speeds things up.

1:01PM:Ok, we're on to the recap now... Google Wallet blends online and offline, and it helps merchants build stronger relationships with customers.

1:01PM:The service is being field tested now, and it will launch this summer.

1:01PM:That's it folks! We're doing a Q&A session now.

1:03PM:Highlights from the Q&A will be posted as appropriate... First and foremost, Google will not be collecting an interchange fee on these transactions.

1:05PM:What happens if you lose your phone? Google can deprovision all of the cards on the wallet remotely. Also, the card numbers are not accessible - they're stored on the secure NXP NFC chip and cannot be accessed.

1:06PM:What about non-Google phones? Google is open to working with any other manufacturers and it will also supply NFC stickers to phones without integrated chips.

1:07PM:50% of the phones sold in the last 6 months were powered by Android, and Google plans to work with partners to get NFC in all Android phones.

1:10PM:Users will not need to input the pin to use Google Wallet's non-payment functions. Loyalty cards, deals, etc can be used any time as long as the phone is on.

1:11PM:How does Google make money on this? Google is in it to create the ecosystem, and it won't charge transaction fees. It will make money on the offers and other value-adds.

1:11PM:(and the Google Wallet app is free)

1:13PM:What happens if a phone's battery dies? "I think you'll need to use your plastic," Google joked. The answer, by the way, is you're SOL. Payments can't be made if the phone is powered off.

1:15PM:Who has the rights to the data this service will collect? The data is owned by the consumer, and each of the respective partners. Bank data stays with your bank. It's never shared and never routed, and that convenient is never broken.

1:16PM:In terms of Offers data, Google will keep it and use it to deliver more personal offers to users.

1:16PM:Google will be completely transparent with this service. "The consumer owns the data." Consumers will also always have control over any data that is shared with anyone (ie, opt-in)

1:18PM:Ok guys, show's over. Thanks for tuning in!

Sources speaking with Bloomberg claim Google is finally ready to take the wraps off its mobile payment service. According to a new report, Google will host an event on Thursday, May 26th to introduce its new service, which will initially be available only to Sprint subscribers in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. who own the company’s Nexus S 4G smartphone. The system will be NFC-based, and Bloomberg did not specify which retail partners would support Google’s initial offering. Google has made a series of moves leading up to the imminent announcement this week, such as its recent acquisition of stealth Toronto-based start up Zetawire, which had filed a patent for “a payment system, an advertising system, and an identity management system” combined into a single product. While Google’s preliminary offering might not include unique technology such as Zetawire’s, it’s safe to say the Internet giant has a lot in store for us as it enters this emerging space. BGR has not independently confirmed that Google plans to introduce a new payment service, but we have received an invitation to a press event taking place on Thursday and we’ll be on hand to cover it live.

Read

Earlier this month a company called Lodsys began sending letters to iOS app developers using Apple’s in-app billing system, asking each to license its technology separately. In a blog post on May 15th, Lodsys explained on its website that “the scope of [Apple's] current licenses does NOT enable [Apple] to provide  ’pixie dust’ to bless another (third party) business applications.” On Monday Apple issued a response to Lodsys explaining that iOS developers are safe under its licensing program. “Apple is undisputedly licensed to these patents and the App Makers are protected by that license,” Bruce Sewell, Apple’s senior vice president and general counsel, said. “The technology that is targeted in your notice letters is technology that Apple is expressly licensed under the Lodsys patents to offer to Apple’s App Makers.” It sounds like developers that have received the notification letters can breathe easy knowing that Apple appears to be offering some support. Hit the jump for more from Sewell’s letter to Lodsys.

These licensed products and services enable Apple’s App Makers to communicate with end users through the use of Apple’s own licensed hardware, software, APIs, memory, servers, and interfaces, including Apple’s App Store. Because Apple is licensed under Lodsys’ patents to offer such technology to its App Makers, the App Makers are entitled to use this technology free from any infringement claims by Lodsys.

Read

According to a Bernstein note issued on Monday morning, Apple’s fifth-generation iPhone will not include Near field communication (NFC) capabilities as had been previously rumored on several occasions. NFC, which will be featured in RIM’s 2011 BlackBerry smartphone lineup, allows cell phones and other devices to transmit data wirelessly over short distances. Unlike Bluetooth, NFC connections do not require a pairing process, so NFC is well suited for applications such as mobile payments, as it is currently being used in several markets around the world. In the U.S. at the moment, carriers, manufacturers, banks and other companies are all independently working on various solutions. Without better standards, it will be difficult for the technology to take off in the mass market.

Read

Mobile payments collaborative Isis has announced its first trial market, Salt Lake City. The group, which is comprised of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, plans to bring its contactless payment system to the Utah merchants in “early to mid-2012.” Isis also announced a working agreement with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to enable Isis payments throughout the entire public transportation system. “By working with the Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake Chamber and Salt Lake City-area merchants, Isis is bringing the mobile commerce vision to reality,” said the group’s CEO, Michael Abbott. ”Salt Lake City consumers will experience a new way to shop, pay and save.” The announcement comes one day after a report suggested Sprint would develop its own mobile payment solution for future use. The full Isis press release is after the break.

Isis Advances Mobile Commerce with First Market

Isis Rolls Out Mobile Commerce Program in Salt Lake City and Partners with Utah Transit Authority to Make Entire Transit System Isis-Enabled

SALT LAKE CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Isis, the mobile commerce joint venture between AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, today announced it will pilot the Isis mobile commerce program in Salt Lake City in early- to mid-2012. Isis has also entered into an agreement with Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to make the entire UTA transit system Isis-enabled, marking the deployment of Isis as the first commercially available mobile transportation fare payment program in the U.S. Additionally, Isis is investing in the necessary infrastructure to enable mobile commerce on a nationwide basis and will be available to all merchants, banks, payment networks and mobile carriers.

“By working with the Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake Chamber and Salt Lake City-area merchants, Isis is bringing the mobile commerce vision to reality. Salt Lake City consumers will experience a new way to shop, pay and save,” said Michael Abbott, chief executive officer at Isis.

Salt Lake City: The Place You Can Leave Your Wallet At Home

Isis, which announced its formation in mid-November 2010, is focused on bringing mobile commerce to Salt Lake City using mobile phones to make point-of-sale purchases through the use of near-field communication (NFC) technology. The Isis system will evolve to offer customers a highly secure and convenient way to pay, redeem coupons and store merchant loyalty cards, all with the tap of their phone.

The Isis mobile payment program will roll out in 2012 and allow consumers to use their Isis-enabled mobile phones to make point-of-sale purchases at retailers across the Salt Lake City area and on UTA transportation.

“On behalf of the residents of Salt Lake City & County, Mayor Corroon and I would like to express our excitement that the Salt Lake City area has been chosen to lead the roll-out of Isis mobile payments,” said Mayor Ralph Becker, Salt Lake City.

“We are pleased Isis mobile payments will be available throughout the Salt Lake City area starting with the relationship with UTA, and we look forward to many other merchants throughout the county offering this exciting mobile commerce service,” added Mayor Peter Corroon, Salt Lake County.

UTA is a pioneer in contactless payments for transit in the U.S., having implemented a “tap on, tap off” system in early 2009. The existing system, which allows consumers to pay with their contactless credit and debit card by tapping an electronic fare reader on a bus or train platform, will allow Isis-enabled mobile phone users to pay using their phone.

“Partnering with Isis is a critical step forward in widespread mobile contactless acceptance throughout the Salt Lake City area,” said Michael Allegra, General Manager at Utah Transit Authority. “Isis allows us to build upon our existing ‘tap on, tap off’ system, and provide our customers with a new, more convenient way to use public transportation using only a mobile phone.”

“Salt Lake City is on the cutting edge in so many ways and we are committed to incorporating promising technologies to improve the quality of life for the people of our community,” said Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “As Utah’s largest business association representing over half the state’s workforce, we are excited about Isis as it gives our merchants a way to streamline their transactions and, more importantly, connect with their customers.”

According to Bloomberg, U.S. wireless provider Sprint is working on a mobile, touchless payment service based on NFC (Near Field Communications) technology. Sprint’s vice president of product platforms, Kevin McGinnis, told the publication that his company plans to make its touchless payment system “an open solution” that will work in a variety of physical locations. “Because we’re allowing other brands and other institutions to participate, they can also tell their consumers that this is available on Sprint,” McGinnis continued. The wireless company hopes to share in revenues generated by point-of-sales purchases, coupons, and other sales-related offerings delivered to user handsets. Gartner projects that 340 million mobile payment users from around the globe will be responsible for $245 billion worth of transactions by 2014.

U.S. carriers continue to jockey for position in an attempt to properly position themselves to ride the impending mobile payments tidal wave. Back in November of last year, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless announced a partnership — dubbed Isis — that will bring mobile payments to their customers. Should the proposed AT&T and T-Mobile merger go though, it could pit the forces of  a united AT&T and Verizon Wireless against Sprint.

Sprint has yet to publicly comment on its mobile payment plans.

Read

According to Bloomberg, Microsoft is working on a Windows Phone update that will bring mobile payments to its fledgling smartphone operating system. Citing two anonymous sources, the publications writes that the company “plans to include mobile-payment technology in new versions of its operating system for smartphones as part of an effort to narrow Google Inc.’s lead in handset software,” and “the first devices boasting these features may be released this year.” The report suggests that the company’s mobile payments solution will be based on NFC (Near Field Communications) technology, meaning that new phones with NFC hardware would also have to be released. The world’s largest phone manufacturer, Nokia, has committed to Microsoft’s smartphone operating system for future devices. The Finnish company has been experimenting with, and using, NFC in its phones for many years, which can’t hurt Microsoft’s chances of success.

Read

Via a brief blog post, Google has announced the availability of in-app billing for Android Market applications. The new feature will allow application makers to publish apps that can facilitate future payments via Google’s Checkout system. “In-app Billing gives you more ways to monetize your apps with try-and-buy, virtual goods, upgrades, and other billing models,” writes Google. “If you aren’t yet familiar with In-app Billing, we encourage you to learn more about it.” The company notes that several applications, including Tap Tap Revenge and WSOP3, are already utilizing the service. Developers interested in taking in-app payments can find detailed documentation here.

Read