Latest news with #SamsungPay
Finextra
15 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
Coinbase connects crypto to Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay will begin rolling out as a payment and deposit option inside the Coinbase app for users in the United States and Canada, with plans to expand to additional geographies in the near future. 2 The road to global adoption relies on an accessible, seamless user experience, and we're proud to partner with Samsung to make it that much easier to fund your crypto journey. Funding your crypto journey should be as easy as sending a text or tapping to pay at checkout. That's why we're making it even more seamless to buy crypto directly from your mobile device. Starting this week, Coinbase users in North America can now use Samsung Pay directly in the Coinbase app to fund their crypto journey. With just a few taps, eligible users can move from interest to action - without needing to switch apps or re-enter payment information. This new integration brings together the convenience of Samsung's trusted mobile wallet with Coinbase's secure and intuitive platform, unlocking a smoother path to crypto for millions of mobile users across North America. Whether you're diving in or doubling down, Samsung Pay makes buying crypto feel as easy as tapping to pay. The feature will be gradually rolled out to select users in the U.S. and Canada over the next month, with full availability expected in the near future. As more people look to explore crypto from the phones in their pockets, we're continuing to meet them where they are — by making it easier, faster, and more familiar to get started.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Stc Bahrain becomes first telecom to launch Samsung Pay, pioneering digital payments
Manama, Bahrain: stc Bahrain, a digital enabler, has announced a significant milestone in its commitment to digital innovation with being the first telecommunications provider to launch Samsung Pay, offering its customers a secure and efficient way to make contactless payments using compatible Samsung devices. This service, which is available now on My stc BH App, enables users to complete transactions for bills, add-ons, and digital gift cards with ease, reflecting stc Bahrain's commitment to introducing innovative solutions that align with modern digital lifestyles. Commenting on the launch, Karim Tabbouche, Chief Consumer Officer at stc Bahrain said: 'We are excited to announce the new payment addition of Samsung Pay on My stc BH App, for our customers. We are committed to embracing digital technology across all our products and services, to redefine our customers' experience. With Samsung Pay, we aim to empower our customers with solutions that elevate their digital interactions and set new standards for convenience and security.' The integration of Samsung Pay introduces advanced security measures, including tokenization and biometric authentication, ensuring safe and reliable transactions. With this launch, stc Bahrain continues to enhance its digital ecosystem by adopting technologies that prioritize customer convenience and simplify payment processes. This initiative highlights stc Bahrain's role in driving technological advancements across the Kingdom, empowering customers with tools that streamline their everyday interactions.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Why some Koreans considered iPhone ‘half-baked' until it could replace their wallet and record calls
For more than a decade, a certain group of South Korean iPhone users passed around the same dry joke online: features like Apple Pay, call recording and transit card support would "only come to iPhone after unification with North Korea." The comparison wasn't literal. It was a way of saying these features felt so delayed that they belonged to the realm of the near impossible. But as of now, that punchline has expired. On July 22, Apple and T-money officially launched support for Korea's nationwide transit card system on iPhones and Apple Watches. It was the last major item on a long list of missing functions that had, for many, made the iPhone feel "half-baked." While there has been no official survey or data on how many iPhone users in Korea viewed the device as incomplete, the frustration was very real, and very specific for some. For years, Galaxy users could pay at almost any store using Samsung Pay's MST technology, swipe into buses and subways with built-in postpaid transit cards, and record phone calls natively. iPhone users, by contrast, had to make tradeoffs. 'I stayed with Galaxy because I had to,' said Kim Min-seok, a 38-year-old sales team manager at a mid-sized electronics firm in Seoul. 'Call recording isn't optional in my job. We handle client contracts over the phone all the time. If I missed something and had no record, I was the one to blame.' He recently switched to an iPhone 15 after his company approved the use of SK Telecom's 'A.' app, which enables call recording through a separate VoIP system. But the transition, he said, still feels like a compromise. 'It works, but it's not the same. On Galaxy, it's just there. You press a button and it's done.' This isn't a niche concern. In Korean business culture, verbal instructions and agreements often carry weight. As a result, call recording is not seen as invasive, but practical. Until recently, iPhones had no way to support it, due to Apple's global privacy policies and refusal to allow third-party access to its native call interface. 'I had friends who loved Apple, but they couldn't use it because of that one feature,' Kim said. 'It wasn't about price or loyalty. It was about function.' Other features were equally consequential. Samsung Pay, launched in 2015, quickly became the de facto standard for mobile payments in Korea. It supported virtually all credit and debit cards and worked on nearly every terminal, including those without NFC support. Apple Pay, which depends entirely on NFC, arrived in Korea only in March 2023 through Hyundai Card, nine years after its global debut. Even then, it launched with limited card compatibility and worked at only a fraction of merchants. According to Hyundai Card's PR director, Shim Hyun-jung, the rollout was 'technically successful but commercially narrow.' 'We knew Korean users had waited a long time,' she said. 'But the infrastructure wasn't ready, and the local financial ecosystem had to adjust to Apple's model.' Apple Pay's arrival spurred a surge in Hyundai Card signups, especially among younger users. But expansion stalled as other card issuers hesitated over Apple's transaction fee demands. The service remains exclusive to Hyundai Card to this day. Not all iPhone users saw these delays as a problem. 'I didn't think of my iPhone as lacking anything,' said J.Y., a 24-year-old university student in Seoul who asked to be identified by her initials only. 'I have not really considered Apple Pay as a basic smartphone feature. I already carry a wallet in my bag.' She has used iPhones since high school and says she prefers them for the design and the way they work with her iPad and MacBook. 'I don't feel like I'm missing out. I just like how it all fits together.' Her view reflects a different kind of user, perhaps more common, shaped more by Apple's ecosystem than by Korea's mobile-first infrastructure. Among Koreans in their 20s, especially women, iPhone usage is dominant. A 2024 Gallup Korea survey found that 75 percent of women in this age group used iPhones, compared to just 55 percent of men in their 20s. 'I think the idea of a 'half-baked iPhone' is mostly a guy thing,' J.Y. added, laughing. 'My female friends and I hardly consider features like Apple Pay or Samsung Pay as basic functions of a smartphone.' Still, for a subset of Apple fans in Korea, the missing features were deeply felt. Nowhere was this more visible than in Asamo (short for "iPhone User Group" in Korean), a massive online community hosted on Naver Cafe. With more than 2.3 million members, Asamo has long served as a hub for Apple users seeking workarounds, complaining about limitations and sharing news. 'We weren't trying to be negative. We just wanted our phones to function like they should in Korea,' said Jang Soo-min, a 31-year-old marketing professional and longtime Asamo moderator. 'Galaxy users could pay, ride the bus and record a call with no effort for such a long time. iPhone users couldn't. It felt like we were using the same device with half the functionality.' Jang points out that iPhone users often had to carry physical cards, memorize instructions during calls and explain to others why their phones couldn't do what was expected. 'It was embarrassing sometimes,' he said. Jang was one of the first to test Apple Pay on day one, and he set up T-money transit support the morning it launched on both his iPhone and Apple Watch. 'This is the Korean Apple ecosystem I've been waiting for,' he said. 'Not new. Just finally complete.' Still, even with the feature list filled out, Apple's market share in Korea remains limited. As of July 2025, Gallup Korea estimates Apple holds 24 percent of the domestic market, with Samsung commanding 72 percent. 'This isn't going to cause a mass switch from Galaxy to iPhone,' said Hwang Ah-yeon from the Korea Consumer Agency. 'The people who wanted iPhones already had them. This just makes their lives easier.' And for those who switched years ago, the arrival of long-promised features isn't cause for celebration. It's more like quiet vindication. 'We made do for years,' said Jang. 'Now it does work, though not perfectly. That might not sound exciting for every iPhone user in Korea, but for those of us waiting for it, it means everything.' mjh@
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch on offer for £39 in limited Wowcher deal
The deals website is offering discounts on refurbished Galaxy smartwatches Gymgoers and daily step-count fanatics know that smartwatches can cost upwards of £200, especially for leading brands such as Samsung and Apple. However, shoppers who don't mind choosing an older model can currently buy a refurbished Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch on Wowcher for £39. Samsung's Galaxy Watch Bluetooth 42mm SM-R810 automatically tracks more than 39 types of activities and comes complete with GPS, ideal for runners and those who enjoy long rambles. It's also equipped with a 1.2-inch screen and can track a user's heart rate, sleep rate, and calorie intake. The exact same watch is also on sale at Amazon for £70 however, there is limited availability. Wowcher sells the refurbished watch in two 'grades' - Grade A (minimal wear) is categorised as 'Very Good', and Grade B is 'Good' (light signs of use). Both grades offer fully functional devices, Wowcher says. The £39 option for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Bluetooth 42mm SM-R810 falls into the Grade B group. On Amazon, customers can find reviews of the fitness trackers. One person said: "Replaced a three-year-old edition and really like the new one. Battery life is really, really improved!" The same customer continued: "Functionality remains great. Have not tried Sleep tracking so I did not rate it. The watch has been everything I hoped it would be, could not be happier." Another stated a downside, saying: "Does not work with Samsung Pay, the app is not installed, and there is no Samsung Pay option in the Galaxy Wearable app." Shoppers who would prefer a newer model and don't mind paying the extra price can pick up a Samsung Galaxy Watch7 (40mm) for £239, usually £289. The sale price is available at Amazon and applies to the green and cream colourways. Another premium option is Apple's Watch SE priced at £219. The 40mm watch has PGS and can be used to make calls and send messages, as well as fitness and tracker features. Customers new to Wowcher can find general reviews of the retailer's services on Trustpilot. One user said: "Easy ordering and payment system, no hassle." Another added: "Lots of good experiences at great prices!" Another left a mixed review, noting a downside to the site's userability. They said: "I like the discounts, but it's very confusing trying to redeem."
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Can Mastercard Stay Ahead in the Race Toward a Digital Wallet Future?
Mastercard Incorporated MA, long regarded as a leading player in global payments, is rushing to reinvent itself as a tech-forward payments enabler in a world where physical cards are no longer the mainstay. This comes as digital wallets, tap-to-pay technologies and tokenized payments completely change how consumers deal with money. Mastercard is taking a comprehensive approach to adapt to the changing landscape. Its Mastercard Digital Enablement Service and Tokenization services are helping banks and fintech companies to securely integrate card details into popular digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. MA is strengthening its collaborations with major players and diving into the Buy Now, Pay Later trend. Its engagement with Central Bank Digital Currencies and crypto-friendly initiatives shows it is committed to staying relevant, even as blockchain alternatives continue to rise in popularity. By partnering with major tech companies, the company ensures that Mastercard credentials are seamlessly integrated into digital ecosystems. Whether it's facilitating tap-to-pay transactions through wearables or launching APIs for smooth checkout experiences, MA is paving the way for a cardless future. Its focus on cybersecurity, biometric authentication and AI-powered fraud detection adds value in a space where trust is critical. Mastercard's global network and strategic collaborations position it well in the race toward a cardless future. But staying ahead will depend not just on scale but on its ability to innovate faster than rising fintech and tech-native rivals. Some of MA's competitors in the digital wallet space are Visa Inc. V and PayPal Holdings, Inc. PYPL. Visa has been aggressive in its digital evolution, particularly through its Visa Token Service. It is partnering with tech giants and focusing on contactless and in-app payments. Visa sets itself apart in its push into real-time payments via acquisitions in open banking and cross-border solutions. PayPal operates its own digital wallet, with features like PayPal Checkout, Venmo and even crypto trading within the app. PayPal directly connects with users instead of operating behind the scenes. Additionally, it is making a push into in-store payments with QR codes and contactless options. In the year-to-date period, MA's shares have gained 7% compared with the industry's rise of 5.4%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, MA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 32.36, above the industry average of 22.76. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard's 2025 earnings implies 9.5% growth from the year-ago period. It witnessed two upward estimate revisions in the past 60 days against no movement in the opposite direction. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Mastercard currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Mastercard Incorporated (MA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Visa Inc. (V) : Free Stock Analysis Report PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
