The $99 Loop ChargeCase, available today, adds mobile payments to your iPhone 5s or 5...and works with regular credit-card readers.
The LoopPay system comes with two devices: the ChargeCase, which has a magnetic loop that works with credit card terminals, and a separate Fob that scans your credit cards and can be used as a second way to make credit card payments, too.
It also a battery with enough capacity to recharge 60% of an iPhone's battery. It charges via Micro USB, but has a pop-out Lightning dongle for iPhone.
Press a button on the side of the ChargeCase, and you can make an instant payment with a scanned-in default card. You can also tell the case to turn off payments after just a few minutes, or several hours.
It's a thick case, and a little hard to attach and detach.
The LoopPay Fob plugs into the headphone jack like a Square credit-card reader. It has its own battery and can be separately authorized to make payments. It's sold separately for $39, and works with both Android and iOS.
Scanning in credit cards to the LoopWallet app. Credit card information is encrypted and paired with an individual phone, and phone number and attached LoopPay accessory.
The LoopWallet app stores credit cards, gift cards, debit cards and loyalty cards: basically, anything that's in your wallet.
The back of the LoopPay Fob.
A rubber covering on the Fob can turn it into a keychain-type gadget. Its own transaction button can ping credit-card readers if you want it to, in case you want to give it to a waiter to pay.
It's not as thick as my own wallet.
Paying at the office vending machine.
The case needs to be held right up against the credit-card slot for it to work.
It worked at a local deli's old-fashioned credit-card reader, too.