Mobile Banking Updates - Oct 30

Mobile Banking App Usage in the U.S. Increases 45 Percent from Q4 2010
"comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released an analysis of mobile financial services usage in the U.S. showing that 32.5 million Americans accessed mobile banking information on their devices at the end of Q2 2011 in June, representing 13.9 percent of all mobile users. The study also revealed that 12.7 million mobile users reported using banking apps, showing a notable increase of 45 percent from Q4 2010."

Mobile Banking Changes Fuzzy Within FFIEC’s New Rules
"Some may call it a convergence of three game-changing forces that are rewriting financial institution security at warp speed. First, there is the U.S. government demand that financial institutions – credit unions included – comply with new security guidelines issued by the interagency Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council to take effect in January 2012."

Connect with Mobile Banking: Part One in a Three-Part Series
"Today there are more than 5 billion mobile phone subscribers in the world, and penetration has now surpassed both the number of internet users and television viewers. Moving forward, mobile banking is set to be a natural extension for today’s consumers. Mobile banking isn’t the new technology, it’s the “now” technology your members expect."

Mobile wallet - who and what will be a winner?
"This week, McKinsey and EFMA issued a report on the future of mobile banking in Europe. Is it a surprise? Not exactly. What strikes me about the report is that whilst banks admit that they are not investing enough they do recognise that mobile banking is the way forward and will become the service of choice amongst consumers. What also strikes me is that banks have acknowledged that telcos and non-banks are leading the way."

Mobile Banking Updates - Oct 28

S&T Bank Introduces Mobile Banking for Anytime, Anywhere Access
"S&T Bank STBA +5.85% , a full-service financial institution with branch locations in 10 Pennsylvania counties, is pleased to announce the launch of S&T Mobile Banking, a mobile phone-based platform that enables customers to access their accounts via text message, mobile web or with the new S&T app available for iPhone, Android and Blackberry. With mobile banking, S&T customers are able to check balances, transfer funds, review transactions, pay bills and more right from their phone."

Lookout Mobile Security Rolls Out Free iPhone Security App
"iPhone owners do more with their phones than anyone else--browsing the web, sending emails, using social networks and even mobile banking. In fact, 52% of iPhone users conduct mobile banking on their iPhone. When designing this new offering, Lookout focused on providing one, easy to use app to keep iPhone users safe, and started by addressing the biggest risks to iPhone users today. In a recent survey, Lookout found that:

* 93% of iPhone users said they have concerns about the security of the data stored on their phones
* 4 out every 10 iPhone users are unsure about the security of public WiFi
* More than a third of users don’t regularly sync their devices."

Tyfone Introduces iCashe Mobile Wallet That Combines Mobile Banking With Digital Commerce
"CTIA Enterprise and Applications -- Tyfone (www.tyfone.com) announced today the availability of iCashe™, a new mobile wallet and eCommerce engine that for the first time delivers purchasing power through any mobile banking application. Built entirely on top of Tyfone's award-winning u4ia® mobile financial services platform, iCashe is the industry's only service to blend comprehensive mobile banking features with convenient consumer purchasing, gifting and loyalty programs. With the option of adding Tyfone's SideTap™ microSD secure element technology, iCashe also provides contactless NFC payments and the highest level of secure identity management."

Mobile Banking Updates - Oct 27

Mobile banking to keep growing
"Though big banks such as Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase led the charge into mobile banking, a growing number of smaller financial institutions are following suit. Mobile banking can enable consumers to check account balances, transfer funds or even make deposits through text messages, mobile applications on smartphones or tablet computers, or on websites designed specifically for mobile use."

Mobe Selects CellTrust SecureSMS for Secure Mobile Banking Applications
"CellTrust Corporation, the recognized leader in secure mobile messaging, today announced that Mobe Inc., the leading global provider of mobile money movement solutions, will license CellTrust's SecureSMS 3.0 software to bring an added layer of security to Mobe's mobile banking products."

GoTrust's NFC microSD cards to power mobile banking in China
"GOTrust Technology has announced that its NFC-enabled microSD secure element will be used in China UnionPay’s mobile payments roll out in China. After trials in the Sichuan province in Western China, China UnionPay says it will deploy GOTrust’s SWP microSD cards in the new HTC Incredible NFC Android smart phone. According to GOTrust, this will result in a mass shipment of 500,000 microSD’s to the user market during the next six months. Further phases are estimated to deliver millions of additional units through 2012."

Meriwest Mobile Expands and Improves
"Meriwest Credit Union announced today that they have introduced a new mobile banking application for the Android Phone platform and have made a significant update to their iPhone app. The new Android application allows members to access their accounts, to see balances and their transaction histories, transfer funds between accounts and manage their spending plan with tools that allow them to graph their expenses and have a visual indication of their spending habits. Members can also add additional users to the application and locate Meriwest Credit Union financial centers and CU Shared branches and ATM’s."

Mobile Banking: Symantec's Whitepaper Details Top Seven Android Monetization Schemes
"According to a new research from Symantec (News - Alert), a majority of recent efforts to monetize mobile malware have a low revenue-per-infection ratio. This has limited the return on investment achieved by attackers. However, Symantec cautions that this ratio is likely to increase in the future as smartphones gain traction as payment devices. Smartphone usage is growing exponentially, with new mobile device shipments increasing 55 percent in 2010."

International Mobile Banking Updates - Oct 26

Mobile, Internet, e-banking - the way to go
"In tune with the times, the Thiruvananthapuram-headquartered State Bank of Travancore is setting great store by mobile and Internet-based banking as well as harnessing the e-platform to executing Government business. Mr P. Nanda Kumaran, who has taken over Managing Director in recent times, says that the mobile banking services are steadily gaining traction and monthly registrations have touched ‘the five-digit mark' over the last three months, compared to the sub-1,000 levels a month earlier."

Airtel Money to enhance mobile banking services for Airtel customers (Ghana)
"Airtel Ghana has launched Airtel Money, allowing customers to use their mobile handset in place of their wallet. As per reports, Mr Luck Ochieng, Sales Director, Airtel Ghana has said that this innovative mobile service would help customers to overcome many challenges that they go through when transacting business in their daily lives."

MOBIbucks Gives Mobile Wallet to Jamaicans
"Advanced Integrated Systems and MOBIbucks will roll out the first mobile money platform in Jamaica.
US-based mobile payments specialist MOBIbucks and Jamaica-based transaction processing provider Advanced Integrated Systems intends to roll out this platform in the Caribbean within the next twelve months."

Mexico pioneers LatAm mobile banking joint venture
"Mobile banking services could be set to take off in Latin America following the announcement of a joint venture between the region’s most prolific operator, America Movil, and the US bank Citigroup. The new venture, named Transfer, will begin offering services in Mexico early next year. America Movil CEO Daniel Hajj has stated that the firm is aiming for around 15% of its current customers to adopt the service over the next three to four years."

Nepalis in Qatar can send money via mobile
"Migrant workers in Qatar will shortly be able to send money to Nepal with the help of a SMS - thanks to newly introduced service - Mobile Banking Service - of Qatar Telecom (Qtel). Executive Director of Qatar Telecom´s (Qtel) International Service Ahmed Yousef Ebrahim Al-Derbesti said the company is introducing the service in Nepal in three months. 'We introduced Qtel Mobile Money as a product last week only and we hope to deliver the service within next three months in Nepal,' he added."

Africa’s mobile banking revolution: the poor now have access to financial services
"Mobile banking and mobile money are revolutionising the face of personal and business banking in Africa. There is no need to carry a bank card orcheque book on you. You do not even have to visit the local bank branch to transfer or withdraw money. All you need now is a mobile phonewith a SIM card."

Diamond Bank partners Paga on mobile banking
"In line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s drive towards making Nigeria a cashless society, Diamond Bank has announced the signing of a formal partnership with the Central Bank licensed company Paga, to offer branchless financial services to Nigerian consumers. According to statement by the bank, both organisations have been working together on this initiative for nearly two years."

Mobile Banking Updates - Oct 24

mFoundry Ranked Number 105th Fastest Growing Company in North America on Deloitte's 2011 Technology Fast 500™
"mFoundry, the fastest-growing provider of mobile banking solutions in the U.S., today announced it ranked 105 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500™ ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. mFoundry grew 985% percent during this period and is the only provider of mobile banking solutions to make the list."

Research and Markets: 2011 - 2012 Mobile Banking Vendor Scorecard: Mobile Banking Has Moved from a Nice-to-Have to a Must-Have Channel
"After a pause in 2010, consumer adoption of mobile banking skyrocketed by 60% in 2011 as hundreds of new banks went live with their mobile offerings. In this third annual review, Javelin provides a highly detailed analysis and ranking of the mobile banking solutions of 15 major vendors and identifies detailed best practices and the top 10 trends for the industry."

Case study: Citizens Bank, mobile banking and the commercial client
"Citizens Bank introduced Access Mobile, a mobile banking application for commercial customers, just about one year ago.
The app—which is available for iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Android and Blackberry—allows businesspeople to manage their cash flow at their convenience. They can approve transactions, view account balances, approve transfers and receive alerts anywhere in the world."

Mobile Banking, Big Hit With ESP Credit Union’s
"Ten credit unions in the past 3 months have signed up for ESP’s Mobile Banking solution. 'We looked at a number of solutions to integrate into our ancillary service offerings. Although we found some great products, we figured we could build a solution that would be much more cost effective and run on more phones than the solutions we were looking at could offer,' said Matt Lefler, ESP Vice President. One of the first adopters was Oshkosh Truck Credit Union and here is was President, Sara Steichen had to say, 'We are a small credit union, but like to be on the cutting edge of technology.'"

Dell Shopping & Support Mobile App Now Available for iPhone

Today, for customers in the United States, the Dell Mobile app is officially available for iOS. iPhone and iPod Touch users can now utilize all of the same helpful shopping and support features available in the Android application. Learn more at dell.com/mobileshopping. You can download the app by using any one of the several download methods below:

* Search “Dell Mobile” within the App Store
* Text “OFFER” to 335548 – a download link and exclusive coupon code will be sent directly to your mobile device
* Visit dell.com/app – you’ll be sent directly to the Dell Mobile landing page within the App Store
* Scan the QR Code shown below

Mobile Banking and Payments - Oct 19

Mobile payments looking at turbulent times
"The idea of a digital wallet and the opportunities that come from moving payments onto the smartphone were major themes at the CTIA Enterprise & Application show. American Express executive Dan Schulman used his keynote address to call for more alliances, noting that, "no single company can do this alone." The prospect of mobile payments was also the focus of one of the more prominent panel discussions today.

It's not hard to see why. Beyond getting a piece of the financial transaction, companies are starting to see the opportunities that come from wedding a digital wallet with reward cards, discounts, and promotions and more targeted advertising; walk into a store and get a coupon for a product that you've previously purchased before."

Citi debuts browser-based mobile payments app
"Citigroup unveiled CitiDirect BE Mobile, a browser-based application enabling clients to receive notifications and authorize payments using their mobile phones. Available to over 50,000 clients and 300,000 users worldwide, the app includes SMS alerts that complement email and fax notifications and payment authorizations covering every type supported by Citi's online banking platform. CitiDirect BE Mobile is now live in 24 countries and will expand globally throughout the remainder of the year."

Ericsson Enables In-App Android Payments Via Carrier Bills
"Ericsson (NSDQ: ERIC) is now turning its IPX mobile payment system to facilitate in-app payments for some mobile app types. That could mean virtual goods, levels, news and other mobile content could be billed for by mobile carriers rather than app stores. Ericsson says its IPX is used by over 120 mobile networks. If they could take a bigger slice of booming in-app payments revenue, they could start to claw some money back from app distributors who run over their cell towers."

U.S. Bank First in Industry to Launch Mobile-Enabled Credit Card Application at Select Retail Locations
"U.S. Bank, lead bank of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), announced today the launch of a new U.S. Bank Card app for select retail partners. The new iPhone app brings convenience and buying power into the users’ hands by giving them the opportunity to apply for and receive on-the-spot credit to make immediate in-store purchases. Currently, the app is being piloted with REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.), a leading retailer of quality outdoor gear and apparel, and will be introduced to other retail partners later this year. The new iPhone app expands U.S. Bank’s leadership in the mobile banking space."