Not sure if a payment platform based on phone model will work....

Magnetic?....we have migrated away from magnetic strip to chip a long time ago...only the great us of a still use magnetic strip information storage....

It's based on nfc... which is a non proprietary standard....but the system is based on phone signature, hence limited phone models that will work....

It can be open, not restricting phone model/made, as long as nfc enabled.... just like keyless entry in some hotels nowadays....use your phone as key to open your hotel door....

Malaysia is 100% chip compliant for many years.... however, as long as there are countries that use magnetic strip storage, cards will still come with dual mode storage....

Some localised cards like ATM or restricted debit cards in some countries already are mono storage....they come sans strip....

Not the same....

Maybank pay only for maybank issued visa cards....using visa wave terminals....

Samsung pay can capture any card and also loyalty cards....

well, we are not decision makers of maybank...in any case, many people feel maybankpay is an interim product, as such restricted product will have no critical mass to take off...it doesn't cost maybank much....just write an app....they are using visa wave infrastructure, so minimal capital outlay...

in fact, the people well positioned to implement a phone based payment system are those who already have a wide based infrastructure...ie visa and mastercard....unfortunately, both have already invested heavily into a card based contactless payment (wave), and i don't see them giving that up...in any case, while EVERY card they issue now is wave enabled, not everybody have nfc enabled phones and/or know how to use it...so i think there is some leg still in a simple card based wave system...

just like everybody knows how to open a hotel door with a card, but few knows how to use the keyless phone entry...

It's built into the redemption cost....the current points needed already includes the 6% gst....

generally, the best prices are when you book directly with the hotel....they don't have to give commission, and pass the benefit directly to you...

but it isn't always the case, and in some instances, the cash back/extra points/airmiles are on top of the same prices...i always check and see....

however, i can understand those on business/company account who might still book a higher price and pocket the cash back....