We’ve all seen the ads on TV and have heard about the revolution happening in the credit card and payment world. NFC (or Near-Field Communication) technology is about to explode, with all the major credit card companies already offering “tap and go” payment services to anyone with a slick hairdo and flashy shoes.
Well, hold on to your eWallets, because from 2012 you will be able to “tap” your smartphone or PayPass card onto your ultrabook laptop and buy products and services online.
Yep, it seems Intel and MasterCard have been busy trialling this new and exciting concept, and believe a mass-market solution is imminent. With more and more products beginning to ship with NFC capabilities, online mobile payments will become an everyday occurrence in coming years. It also spells more bad news for traditional “bricks and mortar” retailers already feeling the pinch of the burgeoning online market.
Retailers may now be forced to install the “tap and go” point of sale facilities in an effort to curb the flow of dollars heading online.