One of the best techs in Japan is their regular use of NFC payments in mobile phones. While we don’t have that here in Australia yet, the next best thing is the Commonwealth Bank’s PayPass debit and credit cards, which will soon work in Bunnings and Dymocks stores around the country.
Previously available at about 15,000 points of sale around the country, including IGA supermarkets, Etihad stadium, Boost Juice and Red Rooster stores, the addition of Bunnings and Dymocks will take the total number of contactless points of sale to over 20,000. The technology allows users to make transactions under $100 without the need for a PIN or signature.
It’s still a long way from being ubiquitous, but it’s still a big step in the right direction for NFC payments in Australia. Here’s hoping we see it in phones soon too.
Sam Testa
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 1:53 PMIs this limited to CommBank customers? ‘PayPass’ is a Mastercard term, and surely they offer it with other banks too?
My NAB Visa has their version, PayWave. Is that compatible with the Commonwealth/Mastercard PayPass devices at the listed retailers?
Ian
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 5:21 PMThe picture of the CBA reader shows both the Visa and Mastercard logos and I am told they work just as well with Visa. I think the real problem is that Visa are way behind Mastercard when it comes to issuing any cards; CBA has 4 million cards and the NAB & ANZ Visa cards are barely 50,000 between them.
Adz
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 2:00 PMDoes this include NAB’s Visa payWave?
I have payWave on my card, but haven’t used it yet.
Dominic Cole
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 2:01 PMThe NAB also have the Paywave technology in their Visa cards
Craig D
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 2:30 PMSo these are the cards to steal then?
icurafu
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 3:46 PMCraig, the swipe function has a payment limit which is enough to buy groceries (<$100). You'd be better off stealing any credit card and faking the signature. (nobody ever checks.)
There have been out at IGA for over a year but when I tried to use it, they just looked confused. I'm just waiting for them to come out at the Coles auto checkout machines for ultra ease of use.
Daniel
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 4:11 PMPay Wave is the Visa branded version Pay Pass is the MasterCard branded version. Thanks to a compatible standard they both work at the merchants that offer the service regardless of your bank. Just look for the logo on your card.
Will Sessions
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 4:24 PMHas anyone else noticed that often the staff at these retail stores have no idea what PayPass or PayWave are, let alone how to use it? I tried insisting on paying for something the other day using NAB PayWave and they wouldn’t let me saying that management had not explained how to use it. This store has had it for at least a month now.
Terry O'Fee
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 5:53 PMAlso NAB are offering the service to any customers that are interested in it. It’s up to the businesses themselves to ask for it, though. I’m a tech and installed it for a few places so far.
Argon
Friday, October 15, 2010 at 8:26 AMMac bank has similar prepaid payWave card this is no news sorry Gizmodo
Todd
Monday, October 18, 2010 at 9:33 AMLets stalk Bunnings now, get a small distance RF scanner and ping peoples wallets, great idea Banks of the world….. These are such a security risk, I dont care if people ‘Oh but its limited to $100″ – per transaction……… I’m pretty sure I would notice and be pissed off at missing $100….