Trains and burgers: Sprint launching NFC trial in Bay Area

For whatever reason, phone-based contactless payment systems have been incredibly slow on the uptake stateside, while others -- those on NTT DoCoMo's well-received Osaifu-Keitai system, for example -- have had no qualms about turning their handsets into wallets. Every so often we catch wind of a trial in the works, though, which gives us hope that we'll eventually all be able to whip our cellies out of our pockets and clog our arteries in one deft motion. Case in point: Sprint has teamed up with Jack in the Box and San Francisco's Bay Area Transit Authority to offer fare and food payments with a tap of a phone in a trial that runs from January through May of next year. Strangely, the pictured phone appears to be the somewhat ancient A920 clamshell, so we're guessing Sprint is modifying the devices for the trial; Boost Mobile customers should be able to get on the action in some capacity as well. If you live in the area, ride BART at least once a week, and are willing to sacrifice that Touch for a trial phone, go sign yourself up -- just take it easy with the bacon burgers, k?

[Thanks, Allan]

[Allan @ Dec 21st 2007 9:31PM]

Nice, I can't wait for this!

[boynamedsue @ Dec 21st 2007 10:36PM]

I'd like to pay for bart that way, but not enough that i'd go with sprint.

[James Yopp @ Dec 22nd 2007 12:00AM]

DoCoMo's "Your Wallet-Phone" program is but one of many (no romanized Japanese, pretty please?)... The reason it's successful is because the SuICa branding for device-embedded chips is not only a widely-used standard, it is compatible with other card-based systems. Rollout of the tech started with vending machines and ticket-taking machines -- neither of which are in widespread use here.

If Visa or MasterCard came out with contactless payment systems, installed unmanned computerized terminals and vending machines everywhere, and started paying manufacturers to offer devices with the chips embedded, or if enough people used public transportation to use their mobile as a bus or train ticket, I think you'd see it take off. If you can only use it when a credit card is required anyway, and you'll probably have to show ID to help the store prevent fraud, there's actually a LOSS of convenience.

I can see having my wallet, but leaving the phone in the car or on my desk when I go out. The kinds of things they are making use of in their trials are not the cornerstones of success, and headed into a consumer-led recession, this will be a big flop. Expect this study to be cited for years to come as to why it will never work here -- even after the economy starts expanding again, and it would be both convenient and profitable, companies will still remember the stinging Sprint is about to take on this one.

[SES21 @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:18PM]

Uhhhhh, excuse me but where have you been? MC has PayPass, Visa has payWave & some AmEx cards have ExpressPay, all of which use the same contactless reader system based on NFC. Their adoption rate has been a chicken & egg thing - sellers are slow to put the new readers in because card issuers have been slow to put the RF chips in. ID or signing for NFC transactions is typically not required for transactions under $25 & the usual fraud protection applies. I think the cell phone version will take off once they find a way to let you load multiple cards on it & easily choose which one you want to use for any particular purchase. I carry my cell everywhere; I can't come close to saying the same thing about my wallet & would love to carry it even less than I do! What's not to like?

[Dirkus @ Dec 22nd 2007 12:36AM]

In my vernacular, and the vernacular of many people I work with, "NFC" is a acronym for "No Fucking Clue", often used in the presence of Management Drones when asked something by a co-worker to which you not only have no answer, but have no idea when an answer will be available. This lets the co-worker know the severity of your lack of info, while keeping the Suits out of the loop.

[j.pickens @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:54AM]

The reason unattended credit card and phone payment system are popular in Japan is almost entirely cultural. In Japan, it is considered shameful to ask someone to tender credit when you purchase an item. Cash up front for goods is the way its done. To give someone a credit card and ask them to give you goods while you only promise to pay is simply not done in polite society. However this means you have to go around with wads of cash, or go to an ATM every time you want to purchase something, and that is exactly what happens there.
Do you know that the AVERAGE ATM withdrawal in Japan is the US $ equivalent of over $600?
Or that you can easily withdraw amounts equivalent to over $10000 in cash at Japanese ATM's?

So, if you use a vending machine or automated phone payment system, you don't face a human being, and can therefore "save face" in this transaction.
However, you can bet that you won't be swiping your phone to pay for something at any kind of store that has a human cashier.

I'm not saying this is better or worse than the US way of plastic payment, but you should understand it, especially if you think the phone pay idea will catch on here. It probably won't.

[Wwhat @ Dec 22nd 2007 11:25AM]

Did you know that in america it's shameful to speak to a cop and not be tasered?
(This was meant to inform japanese readers)

[Michael Johnson @ Dec 22nd 2007 2:36AM]

Hmmm. Old technology, guys. Haven't you heard that fingerprint shopping is going down a storm in Germany? Apart from the obvious danger of your local neighborhood mugger starting to demand your finger instead of your wallet, this is a great system. No stupid numbers to remember, maybe don't even need a wallet. Take a look here : http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7100000/newsid_7102500/7102539.stm?bw=nb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&nol_storyid=7102539&bbcws=2

[FinalStar @ Dec 22nd 2007 3:03AM]

I signed up for it this morning. I am picking up my "trial phone" the 31st in SF. Since I live in teh East Bay, i get to use it on the way home, hopefully its active right away. If not ill just my EZ Rider Card. And i thought that was the best thing ever to come to BART...

[scott @ Dec 22nd 2007 4:10AM]

I can pay my T-Mobile bill through my phone? Not that new of technology stateside I think..

[Evan @ Dec 22nd 2007 4:35AM]

That phone is ancient in terms of cell phones. I had it for two years and recently upgraded. One of you poor SF testers is probably going to get my refurbished phone. Hope it works better for you than it did me.

[Jonathan @ Jan 7th 2008 2:35AM]

The Sprint/BART trial will actually be a four month trial in the San Francisco Bay Area. Boost Mobile customers, no matter which plan you are on will receive an entirely complimentary Sprint Samsung A920 cellular phone with a complimentary (YES! FREE) Voice and Data plan, maybe more. Plus you do get paid an incentive and test not on the U.S. market technology. There's only a few more spots left for January 29-31. Be sure to catch each other testing and converse as feedback is what is going to be needed.