Digital wallets

PayByPhone will add Apple Pay as a payment option for U.K. drivers later this year, as competition in the fast-growing market for mobile payment apps intensifies.

One of Australia’s largest banks, Westpac, is the first of the country’s biggest four banks to adopt Samsung Pay, expanding customers’ contactless mobile payment options.

Apple Pay still struggles to displace cash and cards in the U.S., but its recent integration with Western Union shows the mobile wallet has some untapped potential.

Net Element Inc., a global payments processor with offices in Miami and Moscow, has extended support for Apple Pay to Russian consumers via its PayOnline subsidiary.

Western Union Co.’s mobile app customers can now use Apple Pay to send funds originating in the U.S. to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, including domestic bill-payments.

Only 13% of an estimated 680 million iPhone users have ever used Apple Pay, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, which cites data from venture capital firm Loup Ventures.

Australia's government says the country's large banks cannot collectively bargain with Apple over terms of support for Apple Pay, ending a public battle between Apple and the banks that has lasted at least a year.

Samsung Pay will join the online payment options for Visa Checkout users through a new partnership between the South Korean company and U.S.-based Visa, underscoring the fluidity of mobile wallets.

Mastercard and Samsung India have partnered to roll out Samsung Pay to millions of customers of Indian banks.

Starbucks customers will soon be able to send Starbucks gifts to other iOS device users via Apple Inc.’s iMessage platform with Apple Pay.