Apple buys Mobeewave, where when the iPhone becomes a payment terminal

Bloomberg revealed that the Cupertino firm would have acquired the companyMobeewave Inc for $100 million. This has developed an app allowing, via the NFC functionality of smartphones, to transform any compatible Android terminal into a payment receiver.

So,as shown on the startup's websiteAny user with the Mobeewave app on their smartphone can be paid by buyers for a service or product, via credit card or any other means supporting contactless payment.

The operation is simple: you must launch the app on the payment receiving mobile, enter the transaction amount, then validate. Then, simply wait for the payment to be made by placing the bank card on the back of the phone.

Finally, a receipt may or may not be sent to the buyer's email address.

Mobeewave Inc. is a Canadian company which has already, precisely last year, worked with Samsung to allow South Korean smartphones to benefit from its contactless payment reception technology. Regarding its takeover by Apple, neither party has spoken yet. The Californian firm, as usual, will certainly not do so.

It remains to be seen what the future of Mobeewave Inc will be. Will the technology of the app be integrated into a new native Apple app, like the Workflow app which became Shortcuts on iOS? Or will Apple simply push the development of an iOS version of the app, at least perhaps initially? And what about the Android version, will it disappear from the Google Play Store, like the Dark Sky weather app,also bought by Apple?

Still, the operation is interesting and shows the interest that Tim Cook's company has in money exchanges, both for individuals and professionals. Apple Pay is notably a particularly lucrative service for Apple, and which is not yet at its full potential. From there to thinking that the Cupertino company could see Mobeewave's technology as a way to generate even more money, there is only one step... which we will not take!

Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.