Samsung Pay Iris Scanner Could Bring New Biometric to Payments
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 7 reportedly will include an iris scanner that enables consumers to unlock their phones, one of the first major smartphones in the U.S. to use the technology. Although there was no immediate indication that Samsung plans to use iris authentication for payments, biometrics authentication is gaining momentum as providers seek to eliminate security-challenged passwords.
To use the technology, consumers would hold the phones 10 to 14 inches from their eyes and look at two circles on the screen, according to import website Zauba and other reports. The technology would work more quickly than fingerprint scans, already used on Apple and Android devices, as well as Samsung phones, those reports suggested.
In other Samsung news, the company this week is launching its Samsung Pay mobile wallet in Brazil. The wallet is supported by Mastercard and Visa along with well as Banco do Brasil, Brasil Pré-Pagos, Caixa, Porto Seguro and Santander. The rollout there follows the service’s recent introduction in Australia and Spain.
Samsung accounted for 37 percent of U.S. smartphone sales in February, March and April 2016, according to new figures from Kantar Worldwide. That compares with 26 percent for Apple. Kantar also found that when it came to the companies’ flagship mobile devices, Samsung’s Galaxy S7/S7 Edge accounted for 16 percent of U.S. smartphone sales during that three-month period compared with 14.6 percent of sales of the iPhone 6s/6s Plus. Apple still commands more consumer loyalty, though. “When we look at where these purchases are coming from, just 5 percent of Samsung purchases came from those switching away from Apple, while 14 percent of Apple purchasers came from those switching away from Samsung,” Kantar said.
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