Motorola and MasterCard giving Near Field Communications payments a run for your money

In an upcoming field trial, Motorola will be testing Near Field Communications (NFC) technologies with MasterCard, allowing users to make payments quickly and securely by simply using their cellphones and MasterCard PayPass technology, turning cellphones into virtual wallets. While Motorola is promising deep security measures, it seems to us that this will make getting one's cellphone an even more painful process. The convenience factor could be huge, though: potential uses, aside from purchases, include concert tickets, ID checks, and even a contactless reader. What's a contactless reader?  Well, it means that you could get McSpammed by simply walking by a McDonalds, we we can only hope Motorola's spending as much testing that security as they probably are finding new advertising channels.

[nojetlag @ Dec 19th 2005 2:11AM]

In HongKong this one is common standard since many years already. There it is called Octopus Card (http://www.octopuscard.com/eng/index.htm).

[Harold Li @ Dec 19th 2005 2:11AM]

A contactless reader probably means that the cellphones with this technology would only need to hover an inch or so above the reader in order for it to be read and recognized.

I was actually just about to mention Hong Kong (and Taiwan as well). I guess someone beat me to that. To clarify, in both Hong Kong and Taiwan tickets for transportation (buses, trains, etc) are plastic smart cards which are read by "contactless readers." In Hong Kong, these cards can also be used in convenience stores, supermarkets, parking meters, and numerous other places (and believe me, the convenience factor IS huge).

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 2:11AM]

I've had to take off my cameraphone in various places for security reasons. If this were to become commonplace, I would then essentially have to leave my "wallet" behind as well.

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 2:11AM]

This is old news, DOCOMO has been doing it in Japan with their FeliCa service for a while now. Havent heard of any problems with it yet...

http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/20960.html

[Jody @ Dec 19th 2005 2:11AM]

I just bought me a new Freezer using the name and number on that credit card featured in the picture. Thank-you Engadget!

[triz @ Dec 19th 2005 2:11AM]

MasterCard has said that this will result in "a variety of marketing and promotional applications". But they didn't elaborate. Can somebody elaborate.