Approximately 500 local businesses in four cities across the country are using the LevelUp loyalty app to let customers pay via mobile and earn rewards.

Consumers can purchase, send and redeem gift cards for retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Fandango and Zappos.com via their mobile banking app from OnPoint Community Credit Union.

The campaign to elect Barry Hinckley a Senator for Rhode Island is using mobile payments to collect contributions at events and has raised several thousand dollars so far.

OfficeMax is letting in-store customers pay via Google Wallet to deliver a faster, personalized in-store shopping experience.

Retail payment solutions provider Euronet Worldwide Inc. is launching a new mobile payments service enabling consumers who prefer using cash to participate in mobile payments.

Several restaurants in New England, including two at the Foxwoods Resort Casino, are enhancing the customer experience by giving customers the ability to pay their restaurant and bar tabs using a smartphone and the Tabbedout app.

California utility service provider Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is developing a rounded mobile strategy to simplify bills via mobile applications and SMS.

Mobile NFC may make sense for coffee chains and convenience stores. However, when it comes to higher-value items, retailers and shoppers need to look elsewhere.

While PayPal provided some more color around its push into mobile payments last week, a lot of details are still missing, such as how it will enable in-store payments.

Opera Software ASA is providing users with mobile payments capabilities via a new agreement with Bango Inc.