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Apple, Visa and Mastercard sued in proposed class action antitrust case over Apple Pay card fees
Apple, Visa and Mastercard are being sued by beverage retailer Mirage Wine & Spirits on behalf of US merchants who accept Apple Pay. The lawsuit argues that Apple accepted a bribe from the two companies in an agreement to stifle competition, resulting in inflated merchant fees.
Forget cash back: Microsoft's Xbox Mastercard exclusively earns game discounts
Microsoft announced a new Xbox Mastercard today. Cardmembers can earn points on purchases to redeem on games in the Microsoft Store. The card will launch exclusively for Xbox Insider Program members in the US on September 21, but it will open to all US-based Xbox users next year.
FTC orders Mastercard to open debit transactions to competing payment networks
The FTC has ordered Mastercard to start providing competing payment networks with the information they need to process debit card payments.
Mastercard wants to make crypto purchases less risky
Mastercard has launched a service that aims to take the risk out of buying crypto.
Mastercard's pay-with-a-smile test is bound to rile privacy advocates (updated)
Mastercard wants to create a standard that lets you pay in stores by smiling or waving — but will shoppers be comfortable?
PayPal's credit card will offer up to three percent cashback
Like Apple Card, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard has no annual fee.
Verizon partners with Mastercard to work on 5G contactless payment tech
Mastercard and Verizon say they plan to work together on “transformational” financial technologies.
Samsung and Mastercard are working on a fingerprint payment card
Samsung is collaborating with Mastercard on a biometric scanning payment card with a built-in fingerprint reader.
Opera's new online shopping cashback service is built directly into its browser
Opera's fully integrated cashback service works with partner shopping sites including Nike and Asos.
Mastercard will support cryptocurrency payments later this year
Mastercard has become the latest payment company to give cryptocurrencies its blessing. The financial services firm has begun preparations to support select cryptocurrencies later this year, Mastercard’s digital asset and blockchain VP Raj Dhamodharan said in a blog post.
Mastercard and Visa cut off payments to Pornhub
Mastercard says it’s axing its relationship with Pornhub after finding illegal content on the site.
Samsung Money is a debit card tied to Samsung Pay
Samsung has introduced a debit card, Money, that's tightly linked to Samsung Pay.
Major credit card companies launch a one-click checkout button
If you're shopping on Cinemark, Movember or Rakuten any time soon, you might see a new click-to-pay button at checkout. American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa have teamed up to create the new option for fast, secure online purchases. Their vision is to have one standard checkout button across all online retail websites, similar to the PayPal experience.
eBay, Visa and Mastercard pull out of Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency
Stripe and eBay have followed PayPal in backing out of Facebook's cryptocurrency, Libra. They confirmed to the Financial Times that they would pull their support, while Mastercard and Visa have also dropped out.
WSJ: Visa, Mastercard are reconsidering support for Facebook Libra
It has been a few months since Facebook officially announced its "Libra" cryptocurrency push with support from some big names including Visa and Mastercard. Since then we've heard little about it other than increasing scrutiny from regulators, bankers and politicians around the world, while those partners have mostly remained quiet. The Wall Street Journal reports today that executives from unnamed partner companies have refused to support Libra publicly, despite requests from Facebook for them to do so. It claims, based on anonymous sources, that Visa, Mastercard and others are now reconsidering their involvement altogether. This all comes out as members of the Libra Association are preparing to meet in Washington D.C. on Thursday, so we'll likely find out soon if they pull together or split apart.
That Apple Card may not be as private as you think
When it came time to pay for dinner with my friend and his wife the other night, he said, "No, let us get this." It was a kind gesture. When you don't have to pay for a meal out in San Francisco, the feeling of relief is similar to narrowly avoiding getting hit by a self-driving car in the crosswalk. My friend is generous. He used to work in Apple security and now does security for a different Big Tech entity.
Apple warns against storing its titanium credit card in leather
The titanium Apple Card looks slick (with the sound to match), but you may need to treat it gingerly if you expect it to look as pristine as the day you got it. Apple has posted a cleaning guide for the physical credit card that warns against storing it against leather and denim, lest they cause discoloration that "will not wash off." Yes, that's right -- you could end up with a nasty-looking card simply by putting it in your usual wallet or pants pocket. Many leather wallets have linings, and plastic cards have their own issues, but this suggests it's more delicate than some would like.
Apple Card rolls out in the US this August
The rumors of an imminent Apple Card launch were on the mark. As part of Apple's latest earnings call, CEO Tim Cook confirmed that the iPhone-centric credit card will be available in the US sometime in August. He didn't provide a specific date or other launch details, although Apple has already explained a fair amount about it -- you sign up for the card from an iPhone, and can use it either through Apple Pay or through a flashy titanium card that will be mailed to you for free within a few days.
Facebook's Calibra cryptocurrency wallet launches in 2020
After months of rumors and speculation, Facebook is finally making its cryptocurrency efforts official. This is Calibra, a digital wallet that will use a new cryptocurrency called Libra. Calibra, which is now a subsidiary of Facebook, is designed to "provide financial services that will enable people to access and participate in the Libra network," a blockchain technology developed by Facebook that's getting support from MasterCard, Visa, PayPal, eBay, Uber, Lyft and Spotify, among others. Facebook says it plans to launch Calibra in 2020, and the service will be available in Messenger and WhatsApp, as well as in a standalone app.
(Almost) everything you wanted to know about the Apple Card
With its latest product, Apple wants your money. But it also wants to be your personal finance coach. The company is pitching the Apple Card as a way to "help customers lead a healthier financial life," mostly through an intuitive app interface, a lack of fees and a unique new payment structure. The Card, issued in partnership with Goldman Sachs, does appear to give consumers greater control and understanding of their debt. But it's also another way to keep users stuck in the Apple walled garden -- how can you switch to Android when you owe thousands on your Apple Card?
