Orange and Barclaycard have today launched ‘Quick Tap’, a contactless payment system that utilises both Orange mobile phones and the Mastercard PayPass contactless point of sale technology.
The two companies paired up in 2009 and announced they would be developing a contactless payment service for mobile phone users in the UK, and today that service goes live across 50,000 stores across the UK. Similar to Barclays’ exisiting contactless payment cards, purchases are limited to no more than £15 at a time.
The system is based on NFC (Near Field Communications), but the technology is all housed within a special SIM provided by Gemalto, so it’s not a case of downloading an app to your NFC enabled handset to use the contactless payment system. Special mobile phones have been developed to work with the system, such as the Samsung Tocco Quick Tap, which Orange is now selling for £59.99 on Pay as you go, as well as on 24 month contracts.
Barclaycard, Barclays debit or Orange Credit Card users can top up their account using the app and make mobile payments of up to £15 at a time. Each dedicated handset is pre-loaded with a Quick Tap app which lets you view your purchases and balance so you can keep in check.
Over 50,000 stores nationwide have taken in the new technology, installing Mastercard PayPass terminals in store. Stores such as Pret A Manger, EAT. and Subway will all be offering contactless mobile payments,
Using Barclaycard’s contactless payment technology, customers will be able to pay for items anywhere they see the contactless payments symbol, including shops and cafes like Pret A Manger, EAT. and Subway.
Speaking of the security of the system, an Orange spokesperson said “Mobile Contactless Payments from Orange and Barclaycard have been developed and rigorously tested to ensure customers’ transactions and personal data will be protected and secure, with users having the option to enter a PIN on their handset before each transaction providing an additional layer of security. The launch proposition will use a secure SIM-based approach to mobile payments, providing a single point of contact for customer care as well as ensuring enhanced payment security for customers.”
You can view more info at www.orange.co.uk/quicktap and watch the video below to learn more. Is this sort of thing the future? Let us know your opinions!