ContactlessNews | Eftops trials contactless debit cards

Monday, October 17, 2011

Eftops, Australia’s system for processing payment card transactions at the point of sale, has announced plans to introduce contactless payment technology via card and mobile phone, as well as online purchases, according to the Herald Sun.

Eftops will pilot the new technology this week with a specially branded eftops card equipped with a contactess chip. The cards will be tested by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd employees ahead of a broader roll out planned for the second half of 2012, reports the Herald Sun.

Eftpos, which accounts for 85% of all debit payments nationwide, is reportedly deploying the technology in an effort to keep up with Visa and Mastercard, who have been providing contactless credit cards in Australia with growing success since 2009.

According to the Herald, the contactless roll out is the first change enacted to eftpos’ functionality in 25 years.

Charge Anywhere announced that it will launch its BlackBerry payments software featuring NFC technology at the BlackBerry World event this week in Orlando, Fla.

The Charge Anywhere Mobile Payment App for BlackBerry enables business owners to accept payments on their BlackBerry smart phone or PlayBook and securely process credit and debit cards on the go. Now, businesses operating on the BlackBerry 7 OS platform can accept NFC-enabled credit and debit cards like Visa payWave or MasterCard PayPass by simply tapping their customer’s card to an NFC-enabled BlackBerry Curve or Bold device.

Orange expands Quick Tap to Android phones

U.K. mobile operator Orange has announced that it will expand its Quick Tap contactless payments service to NFC-enabled Android handsets, according to The Telegraph.

Originally available only on the Samsung Tocco and Samsung Wave 578, Quick Tap lets users make contactless mobile purchases of up to £15 at nearly 70,000 retailers around the U.K., including McDonald’s, Subway and Prêt a Manger.

HSBC starts roll out of contactless bank cards

HSBC announced that it will begin the conversion to contactless technology this month, replacing all customer banking debit cards, according to ThinkMoney.com.

The bank will start to roll out the new contactless cards to existing customers whose debit cards are due to expire this month and then continue the process as cards expire. Customers who don’t want a contactless card can opt out by contacting their bank before their current card expires.

Asda supermarket trials contactless payments

Asda Stores Ltd., a British supermarket chain, is planning to trial contactless payment technology in 25 of its stores, according to Computerworld UK.

The contactless systems will be supplied by both Visa and payment value chain Streamline. Customers will be to simply tap the reader with their contactless-enabled card to pay for goods up to £15, rising to £20 June 1, potentially reducing queue times.

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