MasterCard fires up mobile payment trial in Canada

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 21st 2008 at 9:02PM

Hey, here's an idea: let's trial phone-based NFC payment systems. Then, let's trial them again. Then let's trial them a few more times -- but let's not actually launch them on a wide scale so that they're usable, and let's certainly make sure they're not marketed heavily enough to garner widespread consumer interest. That seems to be the attitude financial institutions, manufacturers, and carriers are taking in North America, where countless tiny trials have popped up and died across the US over the past couple years; now, Canada gets in on the action thanks to MasterCard with an adaptation of its PayPass system. The trial, which only (and inexplicably) runs from now until November, loops in Bell Mobility will allow users to pay for $1.29 red blobs sold in sterile, all-blue convenience stores where ghastly silhouettes roam in the background simply by tapping their issued handsets against MasterCard's already installed PayPass terminals. Can we please just get a trial that turns into a commercial product this time, or is that too much to ask?

[Via MobileSyrup]

Filed under: Misc

Tags: canada, mastercard, nfc, payment, trial

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

Yankees368 @ Aug 21st 2008 9:59PM

Do we really need near field payment in our phones? When I was with city bank, I already had paypass not only in my debit card, but a payment tag on my keychain! I believe that those 2 forms of paypass are more than enough.

Now, I am with Bank of America, who does not offer Paypass, Paywave, Blink or anything. Kinda sucks.

Neutral

Valicore @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:01AM

I really like this idea, I use my phone for everything is, this would allow me to be less cluttered, and I would assume bring features such as my account balance/available credit to avoid overages and being overdrawn.

Neutral

thequinox @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:20AM

No way this would be implemented. That would only make us a few years behind the rest of the world. I would rather keep it safe an maintain the decade technology gap.

Neutral

oshawapilot @ Aug 22nd 2008 11:03AM

The only thing "trial" about this here in Canada is having the RF chip on your cellphone instead of your credit card.

I have a PayPas Mastercard already but have never used it - we have the universal debit system called "Interac" here which is accepted at almost any retailer out there, and the payment comes directly out of my bank account instead of a credit card. Yes, you still need to swipe a card and input your PIN number, but it's a small hassle to know that it's a "debit" payment instead of a "credit" payment.

When the banks come up with RF payment directly from my bank account let me know, untill then this is just another method for the credit card companies to try to be me to rack up a balance. No thanks.

Neutral

Cactus @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:29PM

Yow... you know RFID payments are, by definition, PIN-less -- right? That's about the last thing I'd want linked directly to my bank account.

I had a mobile phone stolen about 5 years ago -- if it had such a chip on it, it would've been much worse than the nuisance it was. Reversing unauthorized charges on a credit card is easier, and doesn't leave you short of cash for weeks...

Neutral

Jamar @ Aug 22nd 2008 10:56PM

Not by definition- my Japanese phone has the option to prompt for PIN every time it's read from and the option to remotely lock it.

Neutral

oshawapilot @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:56AM

@cactus

Yes, I'm aware of that, and I'd be happy if the banks came out with a PINless RF payment system similar to PayPass, except actually out of my bank account. Yes, there would have to be limits to control fraud in case of loss, etc, but setting that up (perhaps $20 daily maximum, for example) is childsplay for the banks.

Untill that time, I'll continue to swipe my bank card and input my PIN. I won't use PayPass and run up my credit card balance simply for the "convenience factor" that the credit card companies like to push.

Neutral