Orange launches Quick Tap contactless phone-payments service
Orange customers with a Quick Tap-compatible phone can now pay for goods at some 50,000 UK stores by simply tapping their handset on a payment reader.
Today's launch of the Quick Tap contactless mobile-payments service means Orange customers with a compatible phone can now pay for goods at some 50,000 UK stores by simply tapping their handset on a payment reader.
A rebranded version of the Samsung Tocco Lite, the Tocco Quick Tap, is the first Orange handset to include the near-field communication (NFC) chip and custom software required for the service to work. The Tocco Quick Tap is available now for £70 on a pay as you go deal.
The Quick Tap system is the result of a collaboration between Orange and Barclaycard, and has been in the works since January.
Before you worry that a thief is going to steal your phone and go on a spending spree, you'll be glad to hear that several security features are built in.
Firstly, Quick Tap is a pre-pay service. A Quick Pay app lets you put up to £100 on your phone at a time, but no single transaction can exceed £15. It's possible to pay for goods simply by tapping a reader, but users can also add PIN verification if they want an extra level of security.
Orange has made a video promoting the service, which you can check out below. Then let us know what you think of Quick Tap in the comments section below or on our Facebook wall.