'Samsung Pay' Service Enabled in Saudi Arabia during Q4 2024, Says SAMA

The logo of Samsung is seen on a building during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 25, 2018. (Reuters)
The logo of Samsung is seen on a building during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 25, 2018. (Reuters)
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'Samsung Pay' Service Enabled in Saudi Arabia during Q4 2024, Says SAMA

The logo of Samsung is seen on a building during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 25, 2018. (Reuters)
The logo of Samsung is seen on a building during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain February 25, 2018. (Reuters)

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) said on Tuesday that it signed an agreement with Samsung to enable the launch of Samsung Pay in Saudi Arabia during Q4 of 2024.

The agreement was signed at the inaugural 24 Fintech conference in Riyadh.

The step reflects SAMA's ongoing efforts to improve digital payment in Saudi Arabia, in line with the objectives of the Financial Sector Development Program, a key initiative of Saudi Vision 2030, the bank said in a statement.

It also reflects SAMA's commitment to developing a robust digital payments infrastructure through the national payments system "mada", thus moving toward a less cash-dependent society by providing advanced digital payment solutions that align with international standards.

The Samsung Pay service aims to offer an advanced and secure payment experience, enabling users to easily store and manage their digital payment cards with the Samsung Wallet application.

The launch of the Samsung Pay service is part of a series of technical innovations that aim at meeting market needs and advancing Saudi Arabia's position as a global pioneer in FinTech.



Apple to Switch to OLED Displays for All Upcoming iPhones from 2025, Nikkei Reports

(FILES) This photo taken on October 30, 2023 shows people visiting an Apple store in Shenyang, in China's northeastern Liaoning province. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
(FILES) This photo taken on October 30, 2023 shows people visiting an Apple store in Shenyang, in China's northeastern Liaoning province. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
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Apple to Switch to OLED Displays for All Upcoming iPhones from 2025, Nikkei Reports

(FILES) This photo taken on October 30, 2023 shows people visiting an Apple store in Shenyang, in China's northeastern Liaoning province. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT
(FILES) This photo taken on October 30, 2023 shows people visiting an Apple store in Shenyang, in China's northeastern Liaoning province. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT

Apple will use organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays for all iPhone models sold in 2025 and later, moving entirely away from liquid crystal displays (LCDs), Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.

Television and smartphone makers are adopting OLED displays over LCDs for the former's ability to deliver more vivid colours and sharper contrast, ideal for high-definition videos.

The planned move will exclude Japan's Sharp Corp and Japan Display from Apple's handset business, Nikkei said, Reuters reported.

Apple has begun placing orders for OLED displays for the upcoming iPhone SE model from China's BOE Technology and South Korea's LG Display, according to Nikkei.

Sharp and Japan Display had a combined 70% share of iPhone displays about a decade ago but had supplied LCDs only for the iPhone SE recently and do not mass-produce OLED displays for smartphones, the report added.

Apple first used OLED panels in the iPhone X, unveiled in 2017, and has since switched to OLEDs for premium iPhone models.

The company brought OLED screens to the latest generation iPad Pro models launched in May.

Sharp, Japan Display and LG Display declined to comment in response to Reuters' queries. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.