Scooter startup Bird tests QR code-based mobile payment service

Electric scooter and moped hire startup Bird Rides Inc. extended its services into mobile payments as the company seeks a path to profitability. Called Bird Pay, the service allows users to use the Bird app to pay for purchases at the point of sale, scanning a QR code to link to the merchant before the app prompts for a payment amount. The service is currently being tried out in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, although the company did not disclose how many businesses were participating in the trial.