Today in the Connected Economy: Meta Adds ‘Pay’ Button to WhatsApp
Today in the connected economy, Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service will now include a “Pay” button for users in Brazil and India.
Also, T-Mobile starts an accelerator program to accelerate its smart glasses project, and Sony says it’s well-positioned for life in the metaverse.
WhatsApp Offers Pay Button in Brazil, India
Meta Platforms’ WhatsApp messaging service says it wants to make it easier for users in India and Brazil to make payments with a new “Pay” button.
The social media giant said the button would be available directly on a user’s contact card, letting them send funds to friends, family, and loved ones.
“We’re always working on new ways to unlock the potential of payments on WhatsApp,” Stephane Kasriel, head of commerce and financial technologies at Meta, said in the announcement. “By adding a Pay button to the contact card on WhatsApp, we hope to make sending payments even more intuitive.”
5G-Powered Smart Glasses Enable Immersive Shopping, Gaming and Learning
In an effort to quicken the creation of immersive 5G-powered augmented reality (AR) experiences for smart glasses, T-Mobile has launched a T-Mobile Accelerator program to provide resources to selected developers.
“Smart glasses will completely change how we connect and experience the world around us,” said John Saw, executive vice president of advanced and emerging technologies at T-Mobile.
The company says participants’ projects show the range of consumer and enterprise applications that can be created for 5G-powered smart glasses.
Sony Says It Is Ready to Enter the Metaverse
Entertainment giant Sony is ready to take on a leading role in the immersive virtual world known as the metaverse.
“The metaverse is at the same time a social space and live network space where games, music, movies, and anime intersect,” said Chief Executive Kenichiro Yoshida.
He was giving a strategy briefing and noted the free-to-play game Fortnite by Epic Games as an example of the type of online social space the metaverse will feature.
Reuters points out that two-thirds of Sony’s operating income last year came from its movie, music and gaming projects, which shows how it has evolved from an electronics company to a “metaverse-ready entertainment juggernaut.”
Nuvei Gives Hard Rock Sportsbook Instant Deposit, Payout Capabilities
Payment platform Nuvei has teamed up with Hard Rock Digital to offer payments services for its Hard Rock Sportsbook mobile app for players in Arizona, Virginia and states with upcoming launches, according to a Tuesday (May 17) company press release.
As part of the partnership, players will be able to instantly deposit funds to and from their gaming wallet to their bank account using Nuvei’s Instant Bank Transfer technology in real time through Nuvei’s integration with The Clearing House’s real-time payments (RTP) network.
“Hard Rock Sportsbook is building the best product in the market with an engaging, entertaining and frictionless experience for the sports betting player, and being able to provide instant access to funds is fundamental,” said Matt Primeaux, executive managing director and president of Hard Rock Digital.
Mollie Teams With in3 for BNPL in the Netherlands
Amsterdam payments platform Mollie and Eindhoven-based buy now, pay later (BNPL) firm in3 have teamed up to offer interest-free installments throughout the Netherlands.
“Shoppers don’t always have the available funds to pay for what they want when they need it. BNPL can increase conversion rates and the average order value of purchases by allowing for more flexibility,” Mollie CCO Ken Serdons said.
Working with in3 will let Mollie customers access an “alternative interest-free BNPL payment method with a guaranteed payout,” he added.