How ‘convenient multi-factor authentication’ is key for wearables security

(c)iStock.com/LeoWolfert

Nymi, a security and authentication provider focused on the wearables space, argues in a recently published infographic that the increase in data breaches does not bode well for the enterprise.

According to the infographic, the risk of a company having its systems breached is one in five, with the average cost to a company coming in at $3.5 million.

More than nine in 10 (91%) of breaches involve stolen credentials of some sort – usernames and passwords – perhaps not a huge...

By James Bourne, 26 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Bluetooth, Connectivity, NFC, Security.

Why it’s too early to name major players in nascent wearable payments space

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According to a report by MarketResearchReports.Biz, even though China is the most immediately attractive market for wearables due its proportion of potential early adopters, the wearable payments market is yet to kick into gear as most players are still zoning in on form factor and functionality.

Though Apple is the early mover with its Apple Watch that features payments capability, it is too early to ascertain which players will dominate the market as the space is set to attract a lot of...

By Wearable Tech, 07 July 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Mobile Wallet, NFC, Payments, Research.

Research: Wearable payments expected to hit $100bn by 2018

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/Onfokus)

Many of us are expected to utilise our wearables for payments by 2018, if projections by Juniper Research are correct. The research firm expects contactless payments through wearable devices to reach $95 billion annually by 2018, up from less than $35 billion last year.  

Apple’s entry into NFC gave the industry a much needed boost, and could well be seen as...

By Ryan Daws, 11 April 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Devices, NFC, Payments, Research, Smartwatches.

Opinion: HTC's upcoming 'Halfbeak' smartwatch could be the stand-out Android Wear device

(Image Credit: HTC)

Earlier in the week I posted my concern at the lack of Android Wear devices which could support mobile payments in the future – due to a lack of NFC – leaving an open goal for the Apple Watch and Samsung's upcoming Tizen-based Gear S2 smartwatch. 

One manufacturer which has been completely absent from the smartwatch race thus far is HTC; despite being named as an OEM for...

By Ryan Daws, 09 September 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Devices, Google, Mobile Wallet, NFC, Payments, Smartwatches.

Opinion: Lack of NFC gives Android Wear a problem

NFC is a technology which Android users have bragged about having access to over iOS for years – but now some manufacturers of Google-based devices have abandoned it whilst Apple has embraced it with success for mobile payments. 

Google Wallet launched in May 2011 as a disjointed service which had little support due to a shaky relationship with retailers and banks after Google wanted details of transactions stored for its advertising business. Apple, meanwhile, as a hardware business...

By Ryan Daws, 07 September 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Android, Devices, Google, NFC, Payments, Smartwatches.