contactless
Latest
NYC subway security flaw makes it possible to track riders’ journeys
The contactless payment system for New York City’s subways has a security hole. Anyone with access to someone’s credit card number can see when and where they entered the city’s underground transit during the last seven days. The problem lies in a “feature” on the website for OMNY, the tap-to-pay system for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which allows you to view your recent ride history using only credit card info. Further, subway entries purchased using Apple Pay — which gives merchants a virtual number instead of your real one — still somehow link to your physical credit card number.
Apple staff are already using 'Tap to Pay' at the HQ visitor center
Apple is already testing its Tap to Pay feature for merchants at its Apple Park visitor center.
Target will test curbside returns and Starbucks order pickups this fall
The company will expand the backup item program with more categories too.
Amazon's palm-reading payment tech is now available in New York City
Amazon One palm payments are now available in New York City — if only through one store for now.
More Amazon Go stores are getting contactless One palm readers
Starting today, Amazon One palm-reading tech is coming to the Amazon Go location at Madison & Minor, and will expand to will come to two additional Seattle area stores “in the coming weeks,
A touchless 2020
In 2020, the technology industry pushed products geared towards minimizing, sanitizing or tracking physical touch. Which of these innovations will we keep?
UK raises contactless payment limit to £45 amid coronavirus spread
The limit for contactless card payments in the UK will be increased to £45 from April 1st. According to UK Finance, the decision was already under consideration by those in the industry, but the process has been sped up to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, and to support consumers that would rather pay by contactless at this time. It's important to clarify, however, that the World Health Organization has not warned people against using paper money and coins, but it does advise thorough handwashing after handling it.
Finally, I can use my iPhone to ride the NYC subway
This morning, as I've done regularly since moving to New York City years ago, I left my Brooklyn apartment to head to Engadget headquarters in Manhattan. In an ideal world, I would've been able to use my iPhone to get through the turnstile at my nearby subway station. But, even though the MTA is now supporting contactless payments services such as Apple Pay, only a handful of stations and buses have so far been upgraded to the new One Metro New York (OMNY) system. The one close to my apartment isn't one of them. Still, I wanted to get the full experience beyond a quick demo from Apple. Thankfully, there's a subway station near our office that has the tap-to-pay turnstiles.
Apple Pay will work on NYC subways and buses starting May 31st
Ever since I moved to New York City nearly ten years ago, I've had to buy physical MetroCards to ride the subway almost every day. But last week, for the first time ever, I didn't have to swipe my card to get trough the turnstile and catch my train. Instead, the entire process was done on an iPhone, thanks to a demo I tried of the Apple Pay Express Transit feature -- one that will start rolling out to MTA subway and bus stations on Friday, May 31st. This contactless system, which also works with Apple Watch, is as seamless as you might expect: You just hold your device next to the screen on an upgraded tap-to-pay turnstile and, within a second, you'll see a message on the reader that says "GO" and you're on your way.
Visa will make signatures optional for chipped credit cards
It's been about a month since American Express and Mastercard decided to stop requiring signatures for EMV chip credit cards. Now Visa is joining their ranks, making signatures optional for chipped transactions in North America.
Oakland Athletics reportedly test NFC-powered MLB tickets
It took Apple long enough to embrace NFC, even though it was originally only enabled for Apple Pay. Luckily, the company has finally opened up the short-range wireless technology in iOS 11, which should lead to a host of innovative uses of NFC by third-parties. Case in point, according to TechCrunch, the Oakland Athletics are piloting a new system that will let you tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on ticket scanners to go see a baseball game.
Tesco's mobile payments app is now called Pay+
Tesco's in-house mobile payment app PayQwiq has been around for a few years now, though it was only accepted in all Tesco stores from the beginning of this year. PayQwiq doesn't roll off the tongue all that well, but today it assumes a new name: Tesco Pay+. As always, the app functions as a virtual Clubcard and keeps a record of your receipts, but its main purpose is allowing you to brandish your phone at checkouts to pay for up to £250 of shopping with a tap.
London's Oyster cards are getting an app for easier top-ups
Contactless payments make it so easy to get around London that the trusty ol' Oyster card isn't as convenient as it once was. You can add funds or Travelcards online, for instance, but then have to wait 24 hours and tap in at a specific station to actually bring your card up to date. Transport for London (TfL) is making the Oyster card a little more 2017-friendly today, though, cutting that processing time down to 30 minutes and removing the need to visit a nominated stop. Tapping in at any train, Tube, tram or River Bus terminal will confirm the top-up, and by the end of autumn, buses will also be on that list.
Samsung Pay finally launches in the UK
It took its sweet time, but Samsung Pay is now available in the UK. If you own any device in the Galaxy S6, S7 or S8 family, as well as the Galaxy A3 or Galaxy A5, you now have the option to pay for things without cards or cash. The company has teamed up with Visa and Mastercard to enable the option, but only customers who bank with MBNA, Nationwide and Santander are currently able to try out Samsung's answer to Android Pay and Apple Pay.
Square's payment service arrives in the UK
When Jack Dorsey isn't preoccupied with his CEO role at Twitter, he's also busy running the other company he founded, Square. It's all about money, and is primarily known for little devices that, when paired with its mobile app, quickly get small businesses set up to take card, contactless and mobile payments. Today, the company made its first move into the UK (and Europe, in fact), launching the latest iteration of its Square Reader for £39 (plus VAT), so hopefully you needn't go hungry next time when you walk into your local cafe with a wallet full of plastic.
Samsung Pay won't reach the UK until sometime next year
2016 has been a good year for mobile payments, thanks to the arrival of Android Pay and the majority of big banks adopting Apple Pay. Samsung was also meant to join the party, but the company has confirmed that Galaxy smartphone and Gear smartwatch owners will now have to wait until next year to use its payment service. The Telegraph reports that the launch has been "tied up amid negotiations with banks," a story that some British banking customers are already all too familiar with.
Barclays' new ATMs let you withdraw money with your phone
Contactless technology is, we're told, destined to replace physical currency. In the meantime, you'll soon be able to use your phone to withdraw cash from an ATM -- if you're with Barclays that is. The banking giant announced today that it's in the process of rolling out new in-branch cash machines that will let you withdraw up to £100 with your smartphone or contactless card.
Sainsbury's finally caves to contactless
No, you haven't gone back in time. We're almost at the end of 2016, and Sainsbury's is just now confirming it'll soon begin accepting contactless payments in stores -- finally coming good on an old promise (sort of). Most Sainsbury's Local spots will have the facility before Christmas, with more locations catching up early next year. It's been a long time coming, but Sainsbury's isn't the only slowcoach. Contactless support in Asda and Tesco stores is far from ubiquitous.
All London black cabs will support contactless from next week
London's entire black cab fleet will be required to carry readers to process card and contactless payments as of Monday October 31st, Transport for London (TfL) has announced today. This is no great surprise, of course. The ball began rolling on the new rule late last year, and TfL set an October deadline this past March. For now, all that's asked of black cabbies is they have the facility, but from January next year readers will have to be mounted on the passenger side of the glass. Some hackney carriages have supported card payments for years, but for the majority of cabbies cash has remained king. From next week, though, it'll no longer be optional.
Square is speeding up EMV chip card transactions
Anyone who has encountered a "NO CHIP, PLEASE SWIPE" sign while trying to pay via credit or debit card has probably noticed the switch from magnetic stripes to EMV chips hasn't been the smoothest. According to one study cited by the New York Times, it takes an average of eight to 12 seconds just to complete a transaction. While folks outside the country might scoff at American impatience, Square went ahead and did something about it: driving down checkout times with its latest update to the Square contactless and chip reader.
