wretched
Vladimir Arlazarov, CEO of Smart Engines, told socialbites.ca that Russian banks will be able to implement all the standard functions in web applications for iPhone owners and do without the App Store.
According to him, Smart Engines scientists, based on their own advances in AI, have created recognition technologies that can read various data from a smartphone camera directly in a browser via WebAssembly (WASM). They can program the code directly on a web page and do everything in the browser. It simplifies the solution of complex tasks involving the processing and decoding of data from smartphone cameras.
The head of the company explained that web apps are not able to receive and process data from the smartphone’s camera by default. Its technologies also support the Safari browser, which is essential for web apps to run on Apple devices such as the iPhone.
“This will make it possible to make web applications that will have all the functions the user is familiar with. It’s almost like a mobile app. And it works on iOS. Still, we are all used to a smartphone and a certain level of service.”
Smart Engines technology is based on the progressive web applications (PWA) system. Such “pumped” web apps resemble smartphone apps not only in appearance but also in function.
The purpose of the new recognition technology is to enable all Russian developers to create and distribute web applications for iPhone users that come close to native apps, bypassing the App Store.
Currently, this applies to Russian banks and Russian airlines. Its apps in the App Store were removed by Apple under sanctions imposed by the US government. But the technology holds potential in other services, Arlazarov believes.
What are the functions?
Payments are made with QR codes in banking applications. In the case of a bank’s web application, a special software module is loaded from the server that performs real-time recognition as soon as the user points the smartphone’s camera at the QR code.
According to Arlazarov, recognition of money transfers through the Fast Payment System (FPS) works similarly. There is recognition of hand-printed and typed bank card data and phone numbers, he said.
The head of Smart Engines explained that in the web version of the banking application, it will be possible to recognize passports when opening a bank account, applying for loans, or buying tickets.
“The main innovation lies in processing the video stream and images from the camera on the user’s device using the browser’s allocated resources. This allows recognition of data on the user’s device without sending images to the company’s server,” he added.
According to the expert, for a user, the payment process in a webbank on an iPhone will be almost the same as with the usual camera experience in a native mobile app.
The web version also has its own form of Face ID, enabling identification and verification of a user over the internet banking system, which many users are accustomed to in apps.
Smart Engines’ face verification technology works in web applications, sidestepping the smartphone operating system. This will help banks verify that the person accessing the app is the owner of the bank account, not just the owner of the device, Arlazarov noted.
not so fast
Alexander Salikov, CTO of Tochka Bank of Entrepreneurs and Enterprises, told socialbites.ca that he is skeptical about the idea of such “pumped” web applications.
Salikov pointed out a flaw in Progressive Web Apps: they do not currently support push notifications on iOS. As a result, banks would have to rely on SMS, which is less reliable and more expensive.
Safari for iOS still lacks push notifications for PWAs. In early 2022, a hint appeared in the iOS 15.4 beta that Apple may add push notifications to Safari on iPhone. Yet there has been no official confirmation, so it remains unclear when this feature will arrive.
Salikov also believes that even with tech that streamlines web app authorization, it will be far tougher than logging into a regular app with Face ID or Touch ID.
“Moreover, creating a smooth, useful, and appealing web app interface is harder than for a native app, and there is concern that companies may neglect these usability aspects,” the Tochka executive added.
According to him, the only real upside is that companies adopting this route won’t need a separate development team.
“In the end, however, customers may face a less convenient app and a higher service cost. The expense of paid SMS will be passed on to users,” he warned.
Option for current conditions
In cases where the App Store has removed services for Russian banks, progressive web applications present a tangible option to bypass sanctions, according to Ivan Samoylenko, managing partner of B&C Agency, quoted by socialbites.ca.
The analyst sees this format as particularly favorable for the Russian market. The benefit is that the app does not need to be placed in the App Store.
The web app can be downloaded from a bank, online store, or travel site without awaiting Apple’s approval. The expert notes that demand for this technology is high and that other sectors beyond finance could benefit from its deployment.
It could support payments, orders, or reservations across various industries, including retail, utilities, logistics, tourism, e-commerce, taxi services, and food delivery, Samoylenko suggested.
With the SBP and SBPey services expanding in the country, the integration of QR code reading for payments and transfers into web apps could be crucial for stores and services alike.
“Russian banks have begun adapting these versions as a way to replace native apps that become unavailable to customers, expanding their functionality,” Samoylenko concluded.