News
Digital Banking App Pyypl Is Now A Visa Principal Member
The fast-growing fintech is now officially able to issue prepaid Visa cards from its UAE base, paving the way for further international expansion.
UAE-based personal finance app Pyypl (pronounced “people”) has announced a Principal License Membership and Strategic Framework Agreement with international card issuer Visa. The license enables the fintech company to directly issue prepaid Visa cards, paving the way for further expansion across the Middle East and Africa (MEA).
Pyypl is already one of the fastest-growing MEA fintechs and is on a mission to become the region’s leading “one-stop fintech ecosystem”. Powered by 100% in-house-built technology, the company’s app offers banking and payment services to hundreds of thousands of financially underserved users across Africa and the Middle East.
Pyypl’s Strategic Framework Agreement with Visa is significant, as it recognizes the license approval process in other markets that the fintech company plans to enter. With support from local regulators, Pyypl can now offer internationally accepted virtual and physical prepaid cards, as well as instant user-to-user transfers and remittances to 80 countries.
Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East
Antti Arponen, CEO and co-founder of Pyypl commented: “We are excited to announce our partnership with Visa. Our payments ecosystem has multiple benefits for Visa and will accelerate the provision of financial services to the vast population of underserved digital natives in the region. Working closely with Visa and local regulators in new markets, we are focused on growing Pyypl’s presence and contributing to advancing financial inclusion across the region”.
“We are delighted to welcome Pyypl to our mission of advancing financial inclusion,” says Hasan Kazmi, VP, head of strategic partnerships and ventures – CEMEA, Visa. “We believe in empowering underbanked consumers by providing them with innovative, secure payment solutions. This not only gives them access to the digital economy but also helps them thrive in this increasingly digital age”.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
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