RBS and NatWest have launched an NFC mobile contactless payment service for bank customers with an Apple iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S. The service, which is called TouchPay, has been developed with Visa Europe and uses a protective iCarte cover that incorporates NFC technology.
TouchPay is initially available to the first 1,000 customers who registered to use the service, although it will soon be offered to all customers from RBS and NatWest.
Customers simply attach the cover to their Apple iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S and download the TouchPay application from the Apple App Store. They can then use their phone for ‘contactless’ transactions of up to £20 and can also track spending through the TouchPay app.
Sandra Alzetta, Senior Vice President and Head of Mobile at Visa Europe, said “A key industry challenge in bringing mobile contactless payments to consumers is finding ways to enable existing smartphones that do not offer NFC technology. Services like TouchPay show how NFC-enabled accessories for smartphones can deliver the future of payments today and help hasten mainstream adoption.”