NFC TimesThe premier source for news, analysis and commentary on
Near Field Communication and all contactless technology

NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Even as major Chinese banks and payment network China UnionPay prepare to participate in what is expected to be the launch of Apple Pay in China in the first quarter, they are expanding their Android-based mobile-payments services using host card emulation.

NFC Times Exclusive – There’s more evidence that Apple is gearing up to launch Apple Pay in China early next year, and not only with China’s big four state-run banks, as was earlier reported.

NFC Times Exclusive – Seven major Chinese banks have launched NFC mobile payments using host card emulation, or are planning to do so soon, as they and payment network China UnionPay try to roll out mobile payments more widely and guard their turf against such Internet players as Alipay and Tencent Holdings. 

NFC Times Exclusive Insight –  Apple has been quietly taking more steps toward a launch of Apple Pay in China, registering a local company in Shanghai and hiring at least two top former Visa China staffers, including the former country manager.

NFC Times Exclusive – Besides touting its much larger base of acceptance points, Samsung Electronics appears to be emphasizing what it says is a more “agnostic” approach to its technology for its forthcoming Samsung Pay platform, as compared with rival Apple Pay.  

NFC Times Exclusive Insight – NXP Semiconductors reported its NFC-based mobile transactions business fell in the second quarter compared with the first quarter, with CEO Rick Clemmer apparently blaming the delayed launch of Apple Pay in China, which he indicated is hurting its sales of NFC chips to Android handset makers in the country. 

NFC Times Exclusive – SHANGHAI, China: China UnionPay is continuing negotiations with Apple and some sources told NFC Times it is gearing up for a planned launch of Apple Pay in China.

NFC Times Exclusive Insight –Chinese banking giant Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has launched a mobile-payments service using host-card emulation, supporting credit cards branded by China UnionPay and Visa. 

NFC Times Exclusive –U.S.-based white-label mobile payments and commerce vendor Mozido told NFC Times it is seeing significant interest in host-card emulation among prospective customers, though did not release any details on service providers considering the technology.

Samsung Electronics reportedly says it has an agreement with payment network China UnionPay that would enable embedded chips in more than 3 million of its devices in China with China UnionPay’s contactless-payments service, though no banks have yet been mentioned as issuers.