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Visa issues contactless cards to Youth Olympics attendees

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Spectators attending the first ever Youth Olympic Games in Singapore this month are being issued Visa pre-paid cards that act as tickets, transport passes and payment cards, according to finextra.com.

The cards, which will be the only means of admittance to Youth Olympic events, come equipped with contactless EZ-link functionality, allowing holders to use free public transportation to event venues.

Additionally, the cards allow holders to make purchases at any place that accepts Visa, including Youth Olympic venues.

After the completion of the Games, the cards can be used as a regular transit and reloadable pre-paid card, topped up online at the DBS site, at ATMS and select SingPost branches.

Google is looking to bring its contactless mobile payments service to the UK in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics, according to eWeek Europe.

Google Wallet, which enables customers to pay, redeem coupons and earn loyalty points all with a single tap of an NFC-enabled phone, could be tested in the UK as early as the first quarter of 2012. French newspaper Les Echos says the company is currently in talks with British banks, retailers and distributors.

Companies see London Olympics as mobile wallet catalyst

In the hopes that mobile wallets and contactless payments will catch on with consumers, mobile phone and financial services firms are looking to next year’s Olympics in London as a tipping point.

Sparkasse issues 1.3 million contactless bank cards

German bank, Sparkasse will pilot contactless payments for its bank credit card users, reports Venture Village.

Locations in Hannover, Braunschweig and Wolfsburg will be some of the first for the trial, which begins in April. More than 1.3 million customers will receive the new bank cards complete with contactless functionality.

Samsung, LG & RIM phones get Visa payWave certification

Visa Europe has announced that NFC-enabled smart phones from Samsung, LG and Research In Motion have been certified for use with Visa payWave, Visa’s mobile application for payments at the point-of-sale.

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