Cities chosen by Verizon and AT&T for tests of the phone payment system

13th August, 2010 by adina
Tags: , , , , ,

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have developed a smartphone payment system for the United States, according to unofficial information. The system is believed to be tested in Austin, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis. The coded name of the project is Mercury and a pilot is expected to start in the middle of the next year.

The sources that have revealed this information remain unnamed, because they are tied under a confidential agreement. There are also other sources claiming that Atlanta would also be part of this pilot. What is certain is that the trial is expected to be the largest of this kind in the United States. It would allow users to pay for purchased products or services by using their smartphones equipped with a special near-field wireless microchip that transmits information to a receiver at checkout.

Retailers can also use this technology to send electronic receipts and even rewards in real time. The processing of the transactions may be provided by Discover working with the providers, while Barclays bank would be responsible for managing the accounts.

Visa is also developing such a payment system that is involving Apple’s iPhone. Card account information can be stored in an e-wallet. American Express is equally performing about 50 tests of mobile payments globally. Mastercard is also in the game and has twenty pilot and commercial applications spread over the world.


  • Share

 

Readers Comments