Verizon Wireless and Payfone have announced the "companies are working together to bring a new mobile payment system to Verizon Wireless customers. When available, the service will allow Verizon Wireless customers to make online purchases from their smartphones, tablets and PCs using numerous payment methods, including charging purchases to their monthly wireless statements or using traditional payment methods through financial institution partners."

NuWallet announced it "has solved the most annoying obstacle for online shoppers using their mobile phone for purchases."

"NuWallet has developed an application that cuts the mobile checkout process from minutes to just a few seconds by auto-populating all of the user's billing information to securely complete a transaction," said George Hendrix, President and CEO of NuWallet. The NuWallet app also eliminates the potential of billing input errors, which not only frustrates the customer, but also increases the likelihood of shopper abandonment resulting in lost revenue for merchants.

U.S. Bank has announced its "release of a dual interface payment solution that offers enhanced acceptance and compatibility with credit cards systems worldwide. The new U.S. Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa credit card combines Visa payWave, EMV chip, and magnetic stripe technologies, enabling customers to have the best experience possible wherever they use their cards."

ROAM Data has announced ROAMwallet API, an "innovative 1-Tap™ mobile checkout solution that turns the mobile marketing channel into a mobile sales channel."

Unlike other wallets stored on the secure element of an NFC chip, this ubiquitous mobile wallet securely stores cardholder data in the cloud, for use on any phone, tablet, POS system or computer. ROAMwallet’s patent pending architecture goes beyond other e-wallets to send level three and meta data about the transaction back to the merchant, and the API can be very easily incorporated by any mobile app developer to include convenient 1-Tap checkout in applications or mobile advertisements.

AccountNow, the reloadable prepaid provider, has announced it is merging with Ready Financial Group. The combined company will continue to operate using both brand names. Jim Jones, AccountNow CEO, will be the CEO of the combined company to be known as AccountNow. Will Tumulty, Ready CEO, will become Chief Marketing Officer of the combined firm.

On the web:

• PayPal Ready to Seek E-commerce Gold in Russia - Telegraph
• Google Wallet "one of the biggest investments we've made at Google" - NFC World
• New Wal-Mart Kiosks Present Subtle, But Real, Threat to Banks - American Banker
• Thoughts on Google Wallet - NetBanker
• Avoiding Security Missteps in a World of Pervasive Data Collection - Portals and Rails
• Women's Guide to Success in Payments - LINC Northern California

On the wires:

• Accel Partners Leads $50 Million Investment in YapStone
• New Mercator Report on Global Prepaid Market
• E-Commerce Merchants Prepare for Issuer Response to Durbin Legislation
• BookIt.com Sells Travel Packages Using PayPal 'Parallel' Payments
• Fiserv and Dollar Bank Expand Partnership to Streamline Lending Operations, Support the Customer Experience