A survey from The Fraud Practice LLC, commissioned by Kount Inc., found that Apple Pay acceptance among a group of almost 600 merchants decreased to 35% from 48% a year earlier. Google Pay acceptance dropped from 38% to 25%. Support for near-field communication, the wireless technology that enables Apple Pay and …

Many years ago, in a press interview, I commented on the importance to banks and payment companies of understanding the then new phenomenon of Facebook. At the time, it looked as if social media might become a major platform for payments. It turns out that mobile media has taken that …

Payment should be efficient, secure, and convenient. Alas, these three objectives pull in different directions. Efficiency and convenience tend to undermine security; convenience pulls towards versatility, which in turn harms efficiency. A balance is called for, and the most daring ideas call for a dynamic rather than a static balance. …

Generation Z is about to become a major force in financial services and payments, and that will change how payments providers market their services to them. That assertion, in the “Technologies Influencing Generation Z Payments Adoption” report released this week by Javelin Strategy & Research, is based, in part, on …

Point-of-sale system technology provider Revel Systems said it integrated customer-engagement software from Conduit Ltd., which uses the brand name Como, into its platform to bring to brick-and-mortar merchants services used by online retailers such as loyalty programs, analytics, branded mobile apps, in-app payments and other capabilities. Shift4 Payments LLC announced …

Mitek Systems Inc. announced Wednesday that it acquired Paris-based Artificial Intelligence and Image Analysis (A2iA), a developer of text-recognition and imaging software, for €42.5 million ($49.8 million) in cash and stock. The move bolsters San Diego-based Mitek’s already strong position in the remote deposit capture market and gives it access …

Blockchain provider Ripple Labs Inc. reported results on a number of pilots it is running for its XRapid cross-border payments network. Participants in the pilots have realized cost savings ranging from 40% to 70% compared to conventional fees. The average XRapid transaction took a little over two minutes, compared to two to …

We list 37 entries this year, of which only three appeared in our original Guide nine years ago. This year’s Field Guide represents our 10th annual effort to catalog the broad currents in electronic payments by listing some of the more salient players providing alternatives to the big network brands. …

RealPage Inc., a vendor of software and data analytics to the real-estate business, has agreed to buy ClickPay, a payments processor for rent and other housing receivables, for $218.5 million in cash and stock. The deal is expected to close within the next six months. Infinicept, a company that offers services to …

The mere hint that Amazon.com Inc. could add a person-to-person payments function to its Alexa voice-commerce service was enough early Friday to shave value off of the shares of PayPal Holdings Inc. and Square Inc., both of which offer P2P networks. At mid-morning, Square’s shares were down more than 3% …