20th May 2011 - 00:00
Abstract
Customers purchasing items under £15 can now pay with one 'Quick Tap' of their mobile phones in foodservice outlets such as Pret, EAT, Subway and Little Chef.
The launch is spearheaded by Orange and Barclaycard and 'Quick Tap' will use a secure SIM-based approach to mobile payments. The service will be available to Orange customers who use a 'Quick Tap' enabled handset. Barclaycard, Barclays debit or Orange Credit Card users can transfer funds of up to £100 simply and securely onto the handset's Quick Tap app, after which the phone is ready to make payments of £15 and under in a single transaction. Commenting on the announcement, David Chan, CEO 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. They'll be able to do this, safe in the knowledge that this is a secure technology brought to them by the biggest names in payments and mobile technology. "Having a wallet on my phone has made it much more convenient to make purchases on the move and I like that it allows me to keep track of what I'm spending as I go." 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. Orange Quick Tap is the first of its kind, a service that allows you to pay for everyday items just by tapping your phone wherever you see the contactless payment symbol. It's going to start a revolution in the way we pay for things on the high street." For more information on Quick Tap please see www.orange.co.uk/quicktap