[LINK] itNews advertises NFC payment schemes

[Roger Clarke]

[itNews has again thrown doubt on its credentials as an outlet for 
serious IT journalism by re-publishing PR pap without the slightest 
consideration of the broader issues.

[People are concerned about the insecurity of unauthenticated 
NFC-based payments, and the exposure of consumers to losses through 
error and fraud.  People are returning cards, and destroying 
chip-functionality, and bank-tellers are having to bear the brunt as 
consumers complain;  but itNews merely reports on the onward march to 
a glorious technological future.]


Coles deploys contactless payment terminals
Chris Jager
itNews
Aug 23, 2012 3:30 PM (16 hours ago)
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/312898,coles-deploys-contactless-payment-terminals.aspx

Joins Woolworths in near-field push.

Retail giant Coles has completed an 8-month technology rollout that 
will allow customers to make sub-$100 payments with contactless 
credit cards and mobile applications.

Coles deployed more than 14,000 MasterCard PayPass terminals in about 
750 stores across Australia, after inking a deal with technology firm 
Ingenico in December.

The 'Tap&Go' terminals use near-field communications (NFC) technology 
to process payments without customers having to swipe or insert their 
contactless cards.

PayPass terminals work with MasterCard PayPass and contactless Visa 
Paywave cards, as well as NFC payment applications like CommBank's 
Kaching and Westpac's trial Android app.

Coles has been testing the terminals at select stores since February.

Customers are not required to provide a signature or a personal 
identification number for contactless payments.

"The introduction of contactless payment across all Coles stores 
nationwide ... will provide our customers with access to faster 
payments at the check-out," Coles General Manager of Strategy and 
Financial Services, Richard Wormald said.

"It is about providing ways to make payments easier, faster, and more 
secure every time they visit our stores."

Coles' chief supermarket rival Woolworths began deploying contactless 
Visa Paywave terminals in May last year, also for transactions worth 
up to $100.

The Coles rollout brought the total number of MasterCard 
PayPass terminals in Australia to 100,000.


-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law               University of NSW
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University