This week in Digital Bytes: Apple launches Apple Pay – A contactless payment system; Exterion Media installs 500 Beacons in London buses; and Facebook creates new Moneypenny digital shopping assistant.
Apple Pay Is Here
Apple’s contactless payment system has launched in the UK at thousands of stores, six months after launching in the US.
From yesterday more than 250,000 shops across the UK, including Lidl, Waitrose, Nando’s, Boots and Marks & Spencer will acknowledge payment through Apple Pay, alongside Transport for London (TfL) on its Tube, bus and rail systems
The contactless payment system Apple Pay was activated on iPhones and iPads yesterday morning, permitting individuals to pay for things costing up to £20 with a wave of their device. Apple Pay is only compatible with the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3
To activate, customers need to open the Wallet app on the iPhone, and add their bank card to the app. Apple will offer to add the card that’s already associated with the Apple account, and all customers have to enter is the three-digit security code from the back of the card.
Alternatively, customers can scan a card using the iPhone’s camera, or type in card details manually. The issuing bank will text a one-off code which must be entered in the Wallet app to affirm the activation.
To pay, customers simply hold their iPhone near the contactless reader with their finger on the home button. A message showing that the payment was successful will appear followed by a short vibration.
Apple Pay works in the same way as a contactless bank card but has extra security ‘Tokenisation’ meaning card details are never transmitted to the retailer.
Exterion Media installs 500 Beacons on London buses
The technology will permit brands to convey relevant messages through their own applications to commuters. The framework has been designed with Proxama, a mobile proximity marketing company, and uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to correspond with smartphones that have Bluetooth switched on. A participating brand’s application will have the capacity to utilise the connection to send targeted messages and alerts to users.
Jason Cotterrell, Managing Director UK at Exterion Media, said: “Our ultimate aim is to deploy this technology across our portfolio nationwide, with a long-term vision of providing full connectivity across buses in the UK.”
The technology was trialled in Norwich tracking the usage of beacons on 110 buses for six months. Twenty local retailers participated, communicating with potential consumers through the location and offers app Loka. Exterion reported 2,000 app downloads during the trial period and a 30% click through rate on notifications served.
John Worley, Chief Executive of Proxama’s marketing division said: “The trial in Norwich and our partnership with Exterion Media showed us that consumers are open to receiving content via their mobile devices while they travel, so we expect to experience a similar level of success once we roll out across London.”
Facebook creates new ‘Moneypenny’ digital shopping assistant
Facebook is entering the digital assistant frame with its own customised voice assistant for users of its Messenger platform trying to discover and purchase items, according to a report in the Information. It is being situated as a shopping tool by the social media platform as it branches out from basic instant messages.
Codenamed after James Bond’s own secretary Moneypenny, the virtual assistant is currently undergoing final testing ahead of its arranged launch, a date is yet to be set.
Shunning the wide ranging efficiency points of the existing digital assistants, for example, Apple’s Siri or Google Now, Moneypenny concentrates solely on helping with the purchase of products and services
This will allegedly work by captivating genuine individuals to inquire about the best deals in spite of the fact that the exact subtle elements of the system stay dark but it’s presumable the administration may oblige an administration charge.
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