Visa begins trialling iPhone NFC payment solution in Europe

By on Jan 31, 2011 at 10:00 PM
mobile January 31, 2011

Visa has begun trials of an iPhone-based mobile payment system in Europe, Computerworld reports. The trials, which started today, require on-device software to be installed on testers’ iPhones, as well as a hardware accessory that contains an NFC chip. Visa’s solution also requires retailers to install a hardware terminal capable of processing the mobile payments. Apple is expected to add native NFC capabilities to its next-generation iPhone, which means users would not have to attach any additional device to their phones in order to pay for goods and services. Apple has not yet confirmed the addition of NFC to its next-generation smartphone, however, so it is unclear if the company plans to restrict third-party access to NFC capabilities. In that event, third-party solutions like the one Visa is currently trialling would still require a hardware accessory to function. A survey conducted by Visa in Europe found that 87% of iPhone users would be willing to connect a hardware accessory to their phones in order to enable mobile payments.

Read

Tags:
, , , , , , , , ,
17 Comments

Related Articles

  • rawrrrmonster

    a thief is going to have so much fun when they lose their phones

    • http://twitter.com/mistercarter7 Mike Gonzalez

      that’s why you can configure a passcode to unlock your phone, duh!

      • Anonymous

        … and which is trivial to bypass – at least on Android (haven’t tried on iOS).

        Mobile platform will be the future attack vector for identity theft and electronic money theft.

        So prevalent, such bad security and in the hands of sloppy ordinary users. A dream come true to electronic thieves.

  • http://twitter.com/usemeego meegouser

    Yet another technology that Apple is late to the game with.

    I was doing NFC payments years ago with my Nokia phones when I still lived in New York. I was part of an NYC Mobile Trial 4 years ago. I could pay with my phone as a Subway Card and wherever they accepted PayPass so places like Duane Reade and CVS for example.

    • Anonymous

      Yup… And the NExus S has it since last year, but you and I know that when Apple introduces this in iPhone 5, they will take credit for the “innovation”

      • Midi45

        Here is the thing though. While Apple isn’t the first, they will be the first to give the technology enough notoriety to the general public, which will in turn get more merchants involved. I know you hate Apple, but you gotta tip your hat to their advertising and ability to make things relevant to the consumer.

      • Anonymous

        Well said Midi! DroidTards are always missing the big picture!

      • Drew

        I understand your point and it’s valid but what tarnishes it for me is how no else is trying to market this (and they have the opportunity) as a “new and convenient” way to pay via your smartphone. Google pretty much adopted the technology and backed away in hopes of developers and vendors to jump on board. That’s Google’s angle. Apple’s angle is to make money from it and screw whatever happens in the process.

    • http://www.bloise.co.uk Frankie Bloise

      ditto… the oyster transport system here in london is using NFC since the flintstones…
      in the next apple keynote those assholes will say that they invented the NFC, lol!!

  • Midi45

    When android gets this will it send your credit card info to the wrong recipient? Or is that just a SMS bug?

    • http://twitter.com/mistercarter7 Mike Gonzalez

      LMAO! i bet they send your complete billing info to somebody in your own block, then blame it on a stupid bug

    • KCRic

      Android already has it you lame ass. And it’s not the OS that needs to have it – that can be programed down the road. The phone – you know, hardware – needs to support it first.

  • Anonymous

    For everyones information various small companies have been testing NFC for over a decade. Nokia wasn’t the first and before anyone chimes in neither was Microcrap. Theres far more involved to real NFC then just credit card payments and Nokia wasn’t utilizing real NFC to its full potential. How could they its real potential hadn’t even left the various test labs yet.

  • http://www.thecarners.com Matt R Carner

    So, in fell swoop, Apple just invented NFC technology AND Visa! Yay Apple! I can’t believe no one has ever thought of this before. *drinks kool-aid*

    • http://www.bloise.co.uk Frankie Bloise

      LOL!

  • andrew

    “trialling”?

    How about ‘Visa Begins Trial of iPhone NFD Solutions In EU’

    Not sure ‘trialling’ is the best word there.. and the fact that it’s a payment solution is implied by the name of the company.

  • http://twitter.com/bradenmcg Braden McGrath

    NFC isn’t going anywhere. I’ve had NFC payment available on my credit card for at least 3-4 years now. How many retailers actually take advantage of this? Maybe 2 big box stores (best buy, I think HHGregg), and one fast food chain (McDonalds). The sad part is that most of the employees on the registers have no idea it’s even possible. It drives me nuts to be replacing my credit card due to worn-out mag-stripe, watching the McJockey rip it through the reader when right above it is the NFC radio they could just wave the card in front of.

    The few times I visit Worst Buy anymore, I don’t even take my card out of my wallet (I only have one NFC card, my Amex). I just tap the wallet on the pad and it magically pays. Register jockey’s jaw will generally drop and they look at me in wonder and amazement.

blog comments powered by Disqus