O2 hails "mobile wallet" trials

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 3 Sep 2008 at 10:58

O2 says it has successfully trialled Near Field Communications (NFC) technology in mobile handsets on Transport for London services.

NFC lets users make payments by touching the device, whether that's a phone or a card, against a reader.

Using the technology, O2 integrated an Oyster card and a Barclaycard Visa into a Nokia 6131 handset, 500 of which were distributed to testers who spent six months using the phone as a mobile wallet.

Around 89% of those trialled said they were comfortable using the technology, despite concerns about losing a mobile which is also a bankcard.

O2 claims the trial was so successful that it is now looking at securing cooperation to roll out the scheme in time for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"Imagine going out for the night and only taking your mobile phone with you," says Claire Maslen, head of NFC at O2. "This trial takes us one step forward to achieving this by demonstrating that people want the convenience and practical benefits offered by services like the O2 Wallet."