A system and method for distributing incentives via mobile devices is described. One embodiment, a computer-server-based method, receives a request from a merchant to generate an incentive which incentive is funded and initiated by the merchant, receives the incentive, associates the incentive with a recipient's phone number, and transmits a notification of the incentive to a mobile device associated with the recipient's phone number, the computer server acting as a server-side wallet for the incentive, the incentive being usable, through interaction with the computer server, by the recipient for the purchase of goods or services from the merchant associated with the incentive.

According to an example for virtual currency exchange management, a list of virtual currencies that can be exchanged between a first application and a second application is determined, and a virtual currency exchange rate between a first virtual currency in the first application and a second virtual currency in the second application is calculated. The user is authenticated to the first and second application, and in the event that authentication is successful, the first virtual currency associated with the user is decremented based on the exchange rate and the second virtual currency associated with the user is incremented based on the exchange rate. In some examples, a redeemable asset, digital currency, cryptocurrency, or combinations thereof may be exchanged for a virtual currency based on a calculated exchange rate.

Systems and methods for providing authentication circles to pursue financial goals and/or share expenses with others are provided. One or more provider computing systems are communicatively coupled to one or more user devices. Users may join a circle and make contributions via electronic messages that may allow for acceptance in a one-click fashion. Members may, for example, plan for and share expenses for a trip and compare the expenses with budgets.

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for providing a transaction validation service. A device can receive a request to validate a transaction requested by a user device, where the transaction can be performed by an application and where the request to validate the transaction can be obtained with a first hash that is created by the user device. The first hash can include a hash of transaction data that is hashed using data stored on the user device. The device can receive an indication that the transaction has been approved, obtain a second hash of the transaction data that is hashed using the data stored on the user device, and determine, based on the first hash and the second hash, whether the transaction should be allowed or blocked.

Embedding applications, or parts thereof, into other applications, or parts thereof, is described. In an example, an engagement with a first application, or a part thereof, can be detected, which can trigger a second application, or a part thereof, to be initialized in response to the engagement. In at least one example, the first application, or a part thereof, can provisionally transfer to the second application, or a part thereof. Based at least in part on detecting a user interaction with the second application, or a part thereof, a portion of the user interaction can be embedded in the first application, or a part thereof, and the embedded portion of the user interaction can be presented via a user interface associated with the first application, or part thereof, via a user computing device.

Systems and methods are provided for use in creating, distributing, and displaying messages. One exemplary method includes receiving, by a computing device, a message request associated with an event and extracting, by the computing device, payment information and message information from the request. The method also includes causing the payment information to be processed. The method further includes creating, by the computing device, a message feed related to the event, when such a message feed does not exist, and adding the message information to the message feed when the message feed exists. Finally, the method includes causing, by the computing device, in response to a message feed request, the message feed to be delivered, whereby the message feed is displayed at an event merchant associated with the event.

A token specifying a payment account is issued to a party to which payments are to be made and the token is installed in a specially configured camera. Whenever a photograph is captured by the camera, a copy of the token, among other things, is embedded in the photograph’s metadata. The metadata may also include photo-specific information and a selling price. When a buyer selects the photo for purchase, the token may be used to facilitate a payment to the party, such as the photographer. The buyer may initiate the transaction by simply dragging the selected photograph or photographs onto a purchase application which automatically extracts price and the token for initiating the purchase transaction. The seller can view the purchase details in the payment account.

There are provided systems and methods for a locally broadcasted token to cause image masking of user likeness. A first user may establish a masking request for images taken by other users to conceal the first user's image or likeness in those images. The masking request may correspond to a token, such as a data package, that includes a request to mask the first user in the images, an image of the first user used to perform facial recognition to identify the user in the images, and a masking image to mask the user in the images. Additionally, the token may include an identifier used to contact the first user or a payment option to pay the first user to unmask the first user in the images. The token may be broadcast over an area around the first user to mask the first user in images on receiving devices.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic payment apparatus may include a head unit for providing a user interface (UI) of a payment app that makes an electronic payment and a controller that activates the payment app based on a fact that first version information of the payment app is identical to first version information of a service version stored in a server, makes a request for a franchisee list, at which it is possible to make a payment with the payment app, to the server based on a fact that the payment app is activated, makes a request for UI information of a target store selected from the franchisee list to the server, generates a UI based on the UI information received from the server, and makes the electronic payment based on the UI displayed on the head unit.

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for providing a real-time random discount service by using a mobile app, the system including: a seller terminal provided in an off-line shop operated by a seller; a purchaser terminal owned by a purchaser; and a random discount service server including: a random discount app control unit for controlling to forcibly execute a random discount application by pushing an app activation signal to the purchaser terminal, to thereby display a random discount selection screen including a plurality of random discount selection buttons, wherein the random discount selection button has a winning probability inversely proportional to a discount rate, and to receive selection information on the buttons; a random discount price setting unit for setting a random discount price to be offered to the purchaser; and a payment settlement unit for settling the payment according to the set random discount price.