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Global_News_MEF Each week the MEF team curates mobile stories from around the world. Essential news you may have missed, the latest market insight & data nuggets, the Global Mobile News Round-up offers an instant international mobile content and commerce snapshot.


 Global News Stories

More than half of UK consumers have used digital wallets to pay for online goods

The Drum

More than half of UK consumers (54 per cent) often or always use digital wallets to pay for goods online, research from Skrill has found.

The research of 2,000 UK adults found that more than one in ten 18-24 year olds (14 per cent) now use digital wallets for every purchase they make online. This compares to over a third (37 per cent) of those aged 55 and above admitting to never having used a digital wallet to pay for goods and services online.

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Twitter to Start Tracking Which Apps Its Users Have Downloaded

re/code

Twitter will soon be peeking in on your smartphone. Literally. The social network says it will start collecting data on which apps its users have downloaded onto their phones. The update is opt-out, meaning Twitter will start collecting this information from users automatically unless they explicitly tell it otherwise. Twitter says the reason for the update is simple: It’s trying to learn more about its user base so it can make more money selling ads.

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Social media told to simplify terms and conditions

BBC News

Social networking firms including Facebook and Twitter are being told to make it clearer to members how they collect and use their data. A report by the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee says the firms’ terms and conditions are far too long and complex. The MPs say users may not be aware of how their details can be used by websites and apps. Any reasonable person would struggle with long privacy policies, they add. The committee says reading such documents has been likened to “engaging with Shakespeare”.

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Uber’s Android App May Be Collecting An Alarming Amount Of Your Personal Data

Business Insider

Uber’s Android app may be sending your private data back to the company, reports Cult of Mac’s Buster Hein. The data transfer was reportedly discovered by Joe Giron, who runs a cybersecurity firm. Cult of Mac says: “Digging into the app’s code, GironSec discovered the Uber app “calls home” and sends private data back to Uber. This isn’t typical app data, though. Uber is sending back users’ entire SMSLog even though the app never requests permission…”

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iphone6-plus-box-space-gray-2014iPhone 6 And 6 Plus Are Shifting Reading Away From iPad, Study Finds

TechCrunch

When Apple unveiled the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, it seemed likely that the larger screens on the devices would naturally lead to them assuming some of the functions of the iPad, giving users fewer reasons to turn to their tablets. Now, data from save-for-later reading and video app Pocket finds that indeed, users of Apple’s newest, larger smartphones do spend more time perusing their saved content on their iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, even when they also own and use an iPad.

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Image recognition increasingly an app must-have as scanning gains ground

Mobile Commerce Daily

With major retailers such as Amazon, Target and Macy’s offering image recognition within their mobile applications, the technology is likely to become a must-have although more sophisticated scan-to-shop deployments could remain limited. Scan-to-buy options enabling consumers to shop directly from a retailer’s catalogs, print ads and in-store signage are increasingly a standard offering. However, more retailers are also scrambling to compete against Amazon and showrooming by and employing image recognition technology that allows consumers to point their phone at any object and receive suggestions for similar products within the brand app.

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Fitness Devices to Dominate the Wearables Market until 2018, with over 70 million Devices In-Use

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Fierce Mobile

A new report by Juniper Research has found that fitness wearables in-use will almost treble by 2018, compared to an estimated 19 million in-use devices this year. Juniper expects fitness to remain the dominant wearables segment until that time, driven by intuitive use cases and lower retail prices. However, the broader appeal of smart watches will mean that they will be used more frequently in later years.

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Miami International Airport Unveils Beacon Navigation App

MMM

Miami International Airport has launched an official app aimed at improving travellers’ experience and enabling them to easily navigate the airport using Bluetooth beacon technology.

The MIA Airport Official app provides users with real-time flight tracking data, information on the airport’s 51 passenger airlines and guides to airport parking, ground transportation and dining and shopping facilities.

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Which in-store mobile payment option do consumers prefer? PayPal
EBay-PayPal Split

Mobile Money Revolution

A new study by Retale asked US shoppers which mobile payment service they would most likely use in-store, and found 51 per cent mentioned PayPal. Next was “Your bank’s mobile payment app” with 21 per cent, followed by Apple Pay, at 10 per cent, Google Wallet and retailer’s app at eight per cent, and CurrentC at two per cent.

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Android Phones Are Taking A Growing Share Of Mobile Commerce Sales, At The iPhone’s Expense

TechCrunch

In the past, e-commerce traffic and sales were lopsidedly an iPhone- and iPad-driven phenomenon.  But over the past year, new data shows Android is quickly closing the gap in several ways.

Average order value (AOV): On smartphones, there is now a very narrow gap. iPhone users spend $129, on average, compared to Android Phone users who spend $120. The AOV difference on tablets persists, however.

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data

Ovum says mobile data will account for more than half of global roaming revenues by 2019

Fierce Mobile

Mobile data roaming will generate approximately US$50bn in revenues by 2019, contributing as much as 56% to global roaming revenues, according to new research by global analyst firm Ovum.

Ovum’s latest roaming forecasts* show that Europe continues to be the largest contributor to global roaming revenues, accounting for 46% of global roaming revenues, with much of the revenue growth coming from the EU. The revenue contribution from Asia is also increasing, particularly from Central & Southern Asia, which is expected to grow at a compound average growth rate (CAGR) of 12% over the forecast period, as one of the highest amongst all regions.

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Global News Round-up – These articles are not written by MEF and do not represent any views of individuals, members or the organisation.


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