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Apple Unveils Redesigned Blood Oxygen Feature Amid ITC Ruling

Apple Advances Health Tech Innovation

Apple has announced a significant update to its Apple Watch blood oxygen monitoring capability. The tech giant is introducing a redesigned feature for select models—including Series 8, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra—overcoming previous import restrictions enforced by the International Trade Commission (ITC).

Regulatory Adaptation and Feature Redesign

Under a recent U.S. Customs ruling, Apple is now authorized to import these devices with the modified blood oxygen feature, a move that circumvents the ITC ban established in early 2024. The revised functionality shifts blood oxygen data processing to the paired iPhone, with results accessible through the Respiratory section of the Health app. As a consequence, users will need to consult their iPhone to review their health metrics, as direct watch-based access is no longer available.

Legal Context and Ongoing Disputes

This development follows a contentious legal battle with medical device maker Masimo. In 2023, Masimo secured a victory at the ITC, which led to the removal of the original blood oxygen monitoring feature from Apple Watches due to alleged patent infringement. Apple has since counter-sued, alleging that Masimo replicated features from its smartwatch. The recent update, enabled by a Customs ruling, only applies to devices sold post-ban, while earlier purchases or units sold outside the U.S. remain unaffected.

Implications for the Industry

Apple’s move not only underscores its commitment to innovation within regulatory constraints but also signals a strategic response to competitive and legal pressures. By recalibrating its product capabilities, Apple reaffirms its position as a technological leader capable of navigating complex international trade and intellectual property challenges.

payabl. Launches Click To Pay With Visa To Help Merchants Improve Checkout Conversion And Reduce Fraud

payabl. has launched Click to Pay with Visa, a new card payment experience designed to help merchants reduce checkout friction, improve authorisation rates, and deliver a faster, more secure online payment journey.

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Click to Pay replaces manual card number entry with a token-based checkout experience. Once a customer’s card is enrolled, they can complete purchases in just a few clicks, without re-entering card details. The result is a faster checkout that mirrors the ease of contactless payments in-store, while maintaining strong security standards.

For merchants, the impact is measurable. According to Visa, Click to Pay can deliver up to a 11% uplift in authorisation rates compared to manual card entry, alongside significant fraud reduction through network tokenisation. Faster checkout also helps reduce cart abandonment, particularly on mobile, where typing card details remains a major source of friction.

“With online checkout, every extra step costs conversion,” said Breno Oliveira, Chief Product Officer at payabl. “Visa Click to Pay removes one of the biggest points of friction at the moment of purchase. It helps merchants approve more legitimate transactions, reduce fraud exposure, and give customers the experience they already expect.” 

Visa Click to Pay is available through payabl. checkout, enabling merchants to activate the service without additional integration complexity. The solution works across devices and supports existing security flows, including 3D Secure where required.

“Consumers have come to expect a highly personalised, intuitive, and seamless payment experience, whether they’re buying a coffee, shopping online, or applying for a loan. Visa Click to Pay aims to meet these expectations by removing the need to manually enter card details, thus enhancing both security and the consumer experience in online card payments. With the support of network tokens, Visa Click to Pay enabled a more secure and smoother transaction process, available in many countries around the world. According to European VisaNet data, Visa Click to Pay may allow a 4.5% uplift in merchant sales, meaning a possible annual increase of €51 bn in SMB eCommerce sales in the UK and EU,” said Michael Ioannides, Country Manager, Visa Cyprus.

The launch forms part of payabl.’s broader focus on checkout optimisation, helping merchants improve conversion, approvals, and payment reliability at scale. Click to Pay with Visa is now live for eligible merchants across Europe. 

Checkout expectations are rising across Europe 

Insights from payabl.’s State of European Checkouts report underline why frictionless checkout experiences are becoming a commercial priority. The research found that consumers cite speed (46%), convenience (44%), and security (41%) as the top reasons for choosing a payment method. More than half of consumers (53%) are open to switching to newer payment methods and nearly half (48%) are open to one-click checkouts, provided the solution is backed by a trusted brand such as Visa.

“Checkout is no longer just the final step of a transaction,” said Oliveira. “It is a critical part of the overall customer experience. Our research shows that 43% of European consumers will not return to a site after a poor checkout experience. For merchants across the UK and Europe, that translates directly into lost customers and lost revenue.”

The launch forms part of payabl.’s broader focus on checkout optimisation, helping merchants improve conversion, approvals, and payment reliability at scale. Click to Pay with Visa is now live for eligible merchants across Europe.

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