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Watch2Pay Uses RFID Tech for Contactless Payments: Watch2Steal
January 9th, 2012
Watchmaker LAKS teamed up with MasterCard to develop Watch2Pay, a wristwatch with RFID technology. Aside from telling the time, Watch2Pay can be used to make payments simply by holding it next to a scanning device. Why? Because taking your credit card out of your wallet is way too much effort.
Inside each Watch2Pay is a SIM card that is linked to a MasterCard PayPass prepaid account; it’s the key to the wireless interface between the watch and the reader. For practicality’s sake, each Watch2Pay also comes with a more conventional prepaid card for establishments that don’t have PayPass readers or for when your Watch2Pay is nicked off of you. Watch the video below for a bit more info. Unless you’re a fan of post-hardcore music, my headache and I strongly suggest you put it on mute.
No offense to the band who made that soundtrack, but come on. Whatever happened to bland commercial music? It’s bland for a reason. Watch2Pay is currently available in Poland and in the United Kingdom, where it sells for £99 (~$153 USD). I wouldn’t be surprised if it makes its way to other first world countries. Checkout the official website for more info.
[via Springwise via PFSK]
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Is this contact RFID really safe?
I can’t give a definitive answer to your question, but what I do know is that MasterCard trusts the tech enough to adopt it. The product above, Watch2Pay, is merely a stylized version of MasterCard’s PayPass card, which is already used in dozens of countries.
You might also want to check these articles out if you want to learn more about RFID. Hope that helps! :D