Coles trials ‘contactless payment’ technology
Australian supermarket group Coles has launched a consumer trial of a new ‘contactless payment’ technology called the Coles Pay Tag, with 5,000 mobile phone tags available nationally.
Coles said it was the first consumer trial of contactless credit card technology, which will enable a sample group of 5,000 customers to pay with their credit card and earn Flybuys points by using a Coles Pay Tag attached to their mobile phone.
According to Coles, Australian shoppers are actively seeking “more convenient, time-saving ways” to pay in the supermarket, which has seen Coles become one of the largest MasterCard PayPass retailers in the world. PayPass technology allows consumers to ‘tap’ their credit card against the EFTPOS machine, rather than having to swipe or dip the card. Coles said contactless payments at Coles had increased by over 70 per cent in the last year.
Pay Tag the “next step”
Coles said its new Coles MasterCard Pay Tag is the “next step” for payment technology and will deliver customers an easier way to pay. The ‘sticker’ tag can be attached to a mobile phone, which Coles said will mean customers will no longer have to take their wallet into the store to make contactless purchases.
“Our customers are constantly looking for ways to simplify their lives, save time and effectively manage their finances,” said Rob Scott, Coles Finance Director. “The new Coles Pay Tag is set to do just that,” he said.
“It does not matter which phone you own, the Coles Pay Tag will make earning Flybuys rewards and the PayPass feature of the Coles MasterCard card easier than ever before,” Mr Scott said. “We are excited to now offer this new technology to our customers,” he said.
Coles said it believed there was a “significant opportunity” for it to deliver Australian customers further innovation in financial services. The Coles MasterCard Pay Tag consumer trial is in partnership with GE Capital and MasterCard.
“We are excited to be working with Coles on the Coles Pay Tag,” said Paul Askew, GE Capital General Manager. “We have seen contactless take-up increase dramatically across Australia, and this brings new convenience to our customers making payments easy with their mobile phone,” he said.
The Coles MasterCard Pay Tag can be used in Coles, Coles Express and in over 1.2 million retail locations worldwide that accept MasterCard PayPass. The Pay Tag utilizes the same comprehensive security features as MasterCard PayPass technology, including The Falcon fraud management system, and in-build security chip.
Phone app to help monitor funds and rewards
Coles said a smartphone app, to work in conjunction with the Coles MasterCard Pay Tag, will be launched in early 2014 for iPhone and Android devices. The app will allow customers to earn Flybuys rewards and manage their credit card on the go.
Having read the article with interest it was finally correctly disclosed that is was no more than a stick on Matercard to place on a Mobile phone. This stick on could be stuck to anything, even your wallet if you wished.
The True ability of NFC from a Mobile to provide Contactless Pay Systems seems awhile yet, there is news of Samsung using NFC in its Mobiles for Trials with Vending machines & some limited sales in Japan and Europe.
Then it will be true NFC controlled contactless pay systems.
The young generation loves gimmicks and gadgets. This is great marketing to get the younger population through the doors of coles. Its just a shame that most of the young generation are sucked in by these gimmicks and gadgets that really do nothing at all. They will wake up at the age of 30 and realise how much cash they wasted on silly stuff like this. Their hopes and dreams of owning a house are being engulfed and depleted through clever marketing that really just chews up their income and gives them nothing to show for what they have spent.