The bPay compatible product has been designed to make this service available to a larger number of devices.
Case Station, a manufacturer of smartphone cases, has now created a product that enables NFC mobile payments. This product has integrated with the bPay contactless payments from Barclaycard. The goal is to make it possible for people whose smartphones are not equipped with near field communication to use the technology.
NFC mobile purchases can be done with a quick tap of a smartphone at contactless checkout terminals.
Though a large number of companies have offered NFC mobile payments transaction options, the number of smartphone users who have the technology for these services are in the minority. After all, without an NFC technology chip, the device simply isn’t compatible.
A statement from Barclaycard explained that “All the Case Station cases have been created to discreetly hold a small bPay contactless chip, which will allow users to make touch and go payments for £30 and under (US$39.73) easily and quickly without fumbling for cash or entering a PIN wherever they see the contactless symbol.”
With the NFC mobile payments compatible case, even a phone without the tech can be made compatible.
The payment giant went on to say that the Android and iOS apps for the mobile payments service will not only allow transactions to be completed but also tracked. The bPay chip is connected to a mobile wallet which can be used by consumers with Visa or MasterCard debit or credit cards registered in the United Kingdom.
In this way, consumers can add funds to their mobile wallets by way of the app or online via the bPay website. They can also take advantage of an automatic top-up function which will add funds to the mobile wallet whenever that balance drops below a chosen level.
The Case Station product is technically a smartphone protector case. They are compatible with smartphone models from the LG, Samsung Galaxy and iPhone lines. They also contain the NFC mobile payments chip necessary to use near field communication transactions. They are being sold in a range of different color and pattern options to make them attractive as well as functional.
This wearable technology saw its debut at the Rio 2016 Olympics and was worn by athletes there.
The NFC Ring has been attracting interest since its original crowdfunding by way of Kickstarter. It has finally made its debut, which occurred at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Olympic athletes wore the wearables enabled with near field communication technology. This made it possible for them to pay for their purchases using their Visa accounts.
Now, these wearable technology devices are available for the rest of the public to pre-order.
The NFC Ring works through near field communication technology. This means that it can be tapped against NFC readers in-store to pay for purchases. The tech is now available for pre-order and has a price tag of about $53. The user must choose his or her ring size in order to make sure it will fit his or her hand. The first wave of shipments are expected to begin in December. That said, while it is equipped with the technology for mobile payments it’s important to note that the relationship with Visa was limited to the test with the Olympians.
The NFC Ring payments technology is getting ready for widespread use.
NFC technology is a much shorter range of wireless communication than Bluetooth or WiFi. This means that a mobile payments transaction can’t be completed unless the wearables are waved immediately over the reader or are tapped together.
Many of the largest mobile wallets use this technology. This includes Apple Pay, Android Pay and many others launched by credit card companies and even retailers. The new wearable technology is among the first to provide a device other than a smartphone or smartwatch for mobile payments.
This specific project began with Kickstarter around three years ago. It has been carefully watched by the tech community and consumers alike. This marks its first release for public purchase. It is sold in black and white ceramic color options. The design is such that it appears to be a regular ring instead of some form of technology.
Aside from mobile payments, the NFC Ring can also be used with near field communication enabled smartphones and tablets to unlock them without the need for a password or passcode.
* Correction – this article was altered on August 27, 2016. It had previously inaccurately implied that the relationship between Visa and the NFC Ring extended beyond the test among the Olympians in Rio 2016.
A statement from Barclaycard explained that “All the Case Station cases have been created to discreetly hold a small bPay contactless chip, which will allow users to make touch and go payments for £30 and under (US$39.73) easily and quickly without fumbling for cash or entering a PIN wherever they see the contactless symbol.”