Visa tests iPhone payment system in Europe
updated 12:55 am EST, Tue February 1, 2011
Tech currently centers around add-on dongle
Visa has reportedly started testing a trial deployment of its iPhone-based payment system for a limited number of customers residing in Europe. A NearField Communications World survey conducted by Visa Europe in the UK, Italy, Poland and Turkey suggests 87 percent of iPhone users would consider making mobile payments from the iPhone via an attached accessory.
The credit card company has teamed with a Turkish bank for the initial trials, which will require Wireless Dynamics' iCarte dongle or case attached to the iPhone. The accessories support two-way near-field communications (NFC) and RFID communication to interact with payment hardware at stores and other places.
Separate reports suggest the next iPhone and iPad models may integrate NFC directly into the existing hardware, eliminating the need for external alternatives. If true, tt is still unclear if the NFC components will be tightly integrated with an Apple technology such as iTunes, or part of a flexible system that works with third-party apps and payment systems.
Adoption of NFC is spreading well beyond the realm of Apple, as other companies such as Google and RIM appear to be set to take advantage of the emerging technology. [via ComputerWorld]
