The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technology (ICT) is today launching with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) a new digital platform to expand global access to key ICT data and reporting.

Baker Hill, a leading provider of technology solutions for common loan origination, risk management, relationship management and smart data analytics, announced it will present its latest Baker Hill NextGen^® features at FinovateSpring 2018 for the second co

Luxoft Holding Inc., a global IT service provider, today announces it has built a blockchain adapter for Appian's (NASDAQ:APPN) rapid application development platform. It is now available exclusively to businesses using Appian's Business Process Management (BPM) tool and will allow its users to integrate a blockchain network into their day-to-day business processes, creating a secure, digital environment that facilitates data sharing.

JCB says it will soon be dropping PIN authentication and will conduct a pilot trial of its latest JCB Biometrics Card with fingerprint authentication.

JCB’s Contactless payment solution is provided by IDEMIA, a global Augmented Identity provider, supported by Toppan Printing which will also take part in the demonstration trial in respect of card personalization.

Richard, organizer of the original Bitcoin, Ethereum and Blockchain Super Conference, held in February, is hosting a follow-up conference in September. Like the first conference, the second offers attendees a rare opportunity to network with many of the most respected players in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space – including developers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and “smart money” hedge fund managers who are now piling their capital into blockchain assets.

Open Banking is here. The Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) now requires banks to give any third party access to use payments data and launch transactions from a customer’s bank account, subject to permission. It’s a radical idea; and while there will undoubtedly be impacts, the exact nature and timeframes of the disruption are still becoming clear.

Getting the measure

Although the range of possibilities and changes around Open Banking may sometimes seem confusing, essentially, they fall into five key categories. 

PEX Insure, the managing general agent (MGA) founded by Byron Shepherd, has chosen two separate SSP platforms to distribute its insurance products. Shepherd was formerly one of the heads of the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), responsible for services including MyLicence and the NCD database.

The MGA has chosen SSP Pure Broking to retail standard motor cover, with further products to follow. In addition, as PEX Insure has its own delegated authority, it has also signed up to wholesale insurance products through SSP's brokers. 

HPS, a multinational company and leading provider of electronic payment solutions for financial institutions, card processors, merchant acquirers, independent sales organizations (ISOs), and national and regional switches around the world, has increased its presence within Africa with a new office in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Saxo Bank, the leading Fintech specialist focused on multi-asset trading and investment, has today announced that its transformative fixed income offering, available on mobile via SaxoTraderGO, has won the Best Mobile Trading Initiative at the 2018 Sell Side Technology Awards.

The Sell Side Technology Awards recognise the leading technologies and third party vendors in their areas of expertise through an auditable and transparent methodology developed by the publication’s senior journalists.