Cash By Optus Smartwatch: Australian Hands On

Forget waiting for Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay or anything else Pay-branded in Australia. Cash by Optus is working on wearable support, and we’ve been testing it on the ground here at Mobile World Congress. Can Optus solve the wearable payments conundrum once and for all?

freaked out. I had to explain to more than a few cashiers that I wasn’t attempting to defraud them or otherwise “hack” my grocery bill by paying with my phone, so imagine the sort of result showing them your wrist and paying with your watch will incur.

I tried doing it at the largest mobile show on the planet which is choc-full of weird shit like this, and I still copped a raised eyebrow and had to explain the product to them.

That’s going to happen in Australia. A lot.

Connected Device says they’re working with Optus as partners now to develop a band rather than a watch, and based on how finnicky the watch is to use, I have to say that’s a great idea.

A waterproof band with a pre-loaded debit card on it you can carry in lieu of your wallet or phone is a great idea. That will be awesome. The watch, however? Steer clear.


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