It has started in UK... i wonder if it will catch on in other countries
'Quick Tap' App Turns Mobile Into Cash
12:02pm UK, Friday May 20, 2011
Shoppers will now be able to pay for high street goods with a simple tap of their mobile phone.
The service can only be used for payments of less than £15
Under the scheme people will be able to buy items costing up to £15 simply by tapping their mobile phone against a contactless payment terminal.
The terminals have been installed in more than 50,000 stores across the UK.
Food outlets such as Pret a Manger, Eat, Subway and McDonalds will offer the service, which has been launched jointly by Orange and Barclaycard.
Orange customers who use a 'Quick Tap' enabled handset will be able to use the facility.
Pippa Dunn, Orange vice presidentWe no longer use our mobile phones simply for talking and texting. So, making contactless payments with your mobile is a natural and really exciting innovation which we're pleased to be leading on in the UK.
It will initially be launched on one of the network's most popular handsets, which will be available on both a 'pay as you go' and monthly plan basis.
Users will need to load up to £100 on their phone using a Barclaycard, Barclays debit card or Orange credit card.
They will receive electronic statements on their mobile screen detailing their spending.
David Chan, chief executive of Barclaycard Consumer Europe, said: "This is the first time that customers can use their mobile to pay for goods and services in shops across the UK rather than using cards or cash.
Pippa Dunn, Orange vice president, said: "We no longer use our mobile phones simply for talking and texting - apps, cameras and music players allow us to use them for a lot more.
"So, making contactless payments with your mobile is a natural and really exciting innovation which we're pleased to be leading on in the UK."
The initiative is the latest phase in contactless payments, after cards that only needed to be held against a reader to make a payment were introduced in the UK in 2007.
Namaste
Replies
Users can top up ..up to £100 and spend up to £15 at a time so its not bad... as if someone uses your phone they will not be able to go over the limit
Namaste
Worse would be to have a MICRO CHIP implanted in the palm of your hand....you would be thinking of money all the time
....even when washing your hands or having a shower
Namaste
Dear Pleiarcturian ...Mobile Phone users will receive electronic statements on their mobile screen detailing their spending where else this is not possible by using a debit card...this is one of the reasons
namaste