Barclaycard and the wireless network operator Everything Everywhere Ltd. have officially launched the U.K.'s first contactless mobile payment system, but its success could hinge on merchant acceptance.
Consumers may use Samsung Group's Tocco Quick Tap handset for purchases up to $24.23, the pair said May 19. About 50,000 locations that deploy contactless point of sale terminals can accept the mobile payments.
The companies are using a SIM card in the handsets to support the contactless function because they say it protects consumers' transaction and personal data better than a separate near-field communication chip.
Everything Everywhere is a partnership between Orange and the German mobile operator T-Mobile, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG. Barclaycard, a unit of Barclays PLC, and Orange entered into a strategic partnership in 2009. Barclaycard credit and debit cardholders and Orange credit card users may transfer funds from their account to a mobile wallet application on the handset.
