London - Wallets and purses could soon be redundant with the launch of a wristband that can make purchases.
The ‘bPay’ rubber band contains a smart chip and radio antenna that triggers a payment when swiped over a bus’s card reader or a train station security barrier.
The same technology can pay for a cup of coffee or a sandwich when the wristband is waved across a high street till terminal.
Initially, the waterproof device – developed by Barclaycard but available to customers of other banks – will be released to 10 000 commuters in London, free of charge. A nationwide launch in the UK is planned for next year.
Users can load money on to the band from their debit or credit card via the bPay website and then make purchases up to a value of £20 (about R360) on a single item. They can also arrange automatic top-ups if the total falls below a certain level.
The launch of bPay coincides with a new system of contactless payment on public transport in London, where cash is no longer accepted on buses.
Barclaycard’s Tami Hargreaves said the bands would make payments “simpler than ever”, adding that “every second counts…on the morning commute…With bPay band you just hold your wrist to the card reader”. - Daily Mail