Chains go live with mobile payment

Peach Report reported on the plans for mobile phone payment systems earlier this year, and predicted that 2011 would see rapid growth in their adoption. Orange and Barclaycard have now launched their joint Quick Tap service, which allows people to pay for purchases costing £15 or less by a simple swipe of their mobile against a contactless reader. Barclaycard or Orange credit card holders can quickly transfer funds onto their phones using a Quick Tap app, and use the credit to make purchases.

David Chan, chief executive of Barclaycard Consumer Europe, said: “This is the first time that customers can use their mobile to pay for goods and services in shops across the UK rather than using cards or cash. They'll be able to do this, safe in the knowledge that this is a secure technology brought to them by the biggest names in payments and mobile technology.”

Whether or not mobile payment catches on in the UK remains to be seen. But Orange vice president Pippa Dunn said the ubiquity of mobile phones meant people were ready to use them to pay for things. “We no longer use our mobile phones simply for talking and texting—apps, cameras and music players allow us to use them for a lot more. So, making contactless payments with your mobile is a natural and really exciting innovation which we’re pleased to be leading on in the UK.”

Other retailers signed up to Quick Tap include Boots, Wilkinson and Wembley Area. Barclaycard and Orange are backing the launch with a marketing campaign. Other mobile phone providers are thought to be preparing their own payment system launches.

For more about Quick Tap, click here.