Gemalto powers AT&T’s IoT play

Giant US carrier AT&T will use Gemalto’s systems to manage millions of connected things.

Gemalto will supply AT&T with its LinqUS remote subscription management tech. This makes it simpler for enterprises to manage devices that connect with eSIMs over the AT&T data network.

AT&T already had more than 30 million connected devices on its network as of the third quarter of 2016.

Chris Penrose, President, Internet of Things Solutions, AT&T, said: “Gemalto’s On-Demand Connectivity and eSIM platform are ideal solutions to help AT&T sustain dynamic growth as we shift from mobile operator to mobility service provider.”

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Mahindra Comviva adds chatbot payments to its mobile wallet

Banks using the latest version of Mahindra Comviva’s mobiquity wallet can accept payments by ‘conversational commerce’.

The update includes an embedded chatbot so that customers can make transactions using a text-based UI.

Mahindra Comviva added voice command payment to the wallet in iOS in September 2016 and says it plans to include more context-driven interactions soon.

Srinivas Nidugondi, SVP and Head, Mobile Financial Solutions, Mahindra Comviva, said: “Intelligent payments are the future. Chatbot will make transactions on the digital wallet as simple and seamless as conversing with friends on the social channels, removing complexities in registering for a digital wallet or making payments.”

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Boku takes carrier billing to Windows 10 devices on Orange France

Orange France customers using Windows Phones, Surface tablets, PCs and laptops can now make digital purchases from the phone bill.

Charge to bill specialist Boku is powering the offering – the first of its kind for Windows Store in France.

France is a big market for Windows 10, with over 400 million downloads to date.

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Kaspersky warns of Android-based IoT malware

WiFi routers are under threat from a new trojan called Switcher, says security specialist Kaspersky Lab.

The firm says Switcher is distributed via fake versions of popular apps and will use brute-force to take control of WiFi routers to re-direct traffic.

If successful, it will route traffic to websites controlled by the attackers, leaving users vulnerable to phishing, malware, adware and other attacks.

Kaspersky says around 1,280 wireless networks have been compromised so far, mostly in China.

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Barclays adds ‘instant loan’ feature to its mobile app

UK bank Barclays wants to make it drastically easier for SMEs to get bank loans – and its using its app to do so.

The firm’s app revamp offers loans in minutes, and Barclays thinks the move could contribute to a major boost to the British economy.

Ian Rand, CEO, business banking, Barclays, said: “We recognise that some businesses are cautious about applying for a loan, whilst many more simply do not have the time.

“Our new, pre-assessed lending gives customers the ability to see how much they could borrow on their mobile and we can get that money to them more quickly than ever.”

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Veoo acquires Singapore-based InternetQ

UK mobile marketing specialist Veoo has strengthened its Far East and Latin America reach with the purchase of InternetQ.

In a deal signed in December, Veoo acquired InternetQ’s business in countries including: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Argentina, Chile, Vietnam, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Paraguay, Dominican Republic and Turkey.

This means that Veoo can now offer premium billing, mobile marketing and digital entertainment via operators in 16 countries. It now owns 12 companies across the Far East, Latin America and Europe.

Matthew Winters, CEO of Veoo, said: “Asia Pac and Latin America present a huge market opportunity for Veoo. We have enjoyed a long established relationship with InternetQ, and as such, we know their premium billing and payments business inside out.”

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