Gyft
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Bitcoin's tech could be used to prevent digital gift card fraud
Bitcoin may linger on the fringes of the mainstream, but plenty of companies are casting envious eyes towards the technology that underpins it. Just days after IBM announced a plan to use the blockchain as the basis for its own payments platform, Gyft has said that it's doing the same. The digital gift card company has revealed that it's looking into ways to "tokenize" gift cards and issue them on the blockchain for better theft protection. CEO Vinny Lingham has admitted that the company is a long way away from having a working prototype, but it's clear that Bitcoin isn't going anywhere.
Gyft opens up to developers, offers sign-up page for APIs
Gyft, the mobile platform that lets users buy, send and store virtual gift cards, is now giving developers a crack at its APIs. Launched late last year on Android and iOS, the service currently counts its retail partnerships in the hundreds and is looking to extend its reach to other applications, websites and, most importantly, the realm of mobile gaming. Gyft CEO Vinny Lingham, hopes mobile game devs will embrace the platform as a means of facilitating in-app purchases -- a move that would help to eliminate external charges from other billing services. Already, devs are lining up to use Gyft's APIs, with the first integration live on Yappem, a B2B social network, and "about 10 more" planned to go live next month.
Gyft and its guilt-free gift cards now available on Android
Gift cards sure are convenient, but who likes futzing with all those useless, environmentally-unfriendly plastic rectangles? Certainly not us, which is why we dig free iOS application Gyft, an application that not only aggregates our gift cards, but allows us to buy and gift others with gift cards from a variety of major retailers (Gap and Sephora, among many others). And today, our Android-inclined brethren can get on board the Gyft train, as its headed to the Google Play store. To incentivize your use of the free app, Gyft's doling out $10 in free cards, so head over to the Google Play store and snag your free money.
Gyft for iOS now compatible with Passbook, adds gift cards from more than 200 retailers
With Apple having recently introduced its novel Passbook feature in the latest version of iOS, it's only natural for app makers to try and take advantage of such miscellaneous hub. With that in mind, Gyft -- a 2012 TechCrunch Disrupt finalist -- has made its application fully compatible with Cupertino's newfangled iOS 6, adding support for the iPhone 5's 4-inch screen and, most importantly, the ability to add gift cards from many retailers to Passbook; some of which include Amazon, Target, Lowe's, GAP, American Eagle and Starbucks. You can grab the Gyft (v1.2) application now directly from your iDevice, or there's always the link below if that makes it slightly easier for you.
