Tracking the Evolution of Beacon

May 5, 2014 - 10 years ago

Apple redefined the word “beacon” in June of 2013 when it quietly unveiled a new proximity technology that enabled iOS devices to communicate with each other. It’s been a unending stream of innovation ever since as payments players rush to integrate it into their payments apps. Want to see who’s doing what and where? Check out our Beacon Timeline to get caught up.

In 2013, many companies, including Apple and PayPal, started to test the beacon technology for payments.

When PayPal’s president David Marcus announced the PayPal Beacon on his company’s blog, it was clear that the goal for the technology was to create an easier way to pay.

“No one wakes up in the morning and thinks, ‘I wish someone invented something better than swiping a card to pay. I hate it.’ “We figured the only better way to pay would be to do nothing,” Marcus wrote “Just walk in a store and, like magic, when you’re ready to pay, money is transferred securely.”

Now in 2014, beacon technology can be found at thousands of locations across the country, and more consumers are embracing the idea.  But this is just the beginning.

PYMNTS.com invites you to take a look at some of the many accomplishments that have been made just within the last year. It’s clear that with the latest innovations to come, the focus will be on mobile payments.

The Rise and Fall of Blackberry: Journey Through Photos

April 16, 2014 - 10 years ago

When the BlackBerry was first introduced as a mobile device in 2002, it was immediately made to be the unofficial requirement for everyone within the business industry. By 2007, the average stock price for the company was around $150.

Also within that year, the iPhone and Android were gaining interest and immediately changed the way cell phones were viewed.

In 2008, stocks started to plummet as more innovative phones were introduced to the market.

Although, BlackBerry made several attempts to return to the top, the company has yet been able to accomplish that goal.  It has gotten to the point where CEO John Chen is now considering discontinuing the mobile device so the company can become more profitable.

The following timeline will show some of the defining moments that contributed to the rise and fall of BlackBerry.

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