As part of a musing about the future of credit cards and the possibilities of contactless technology, the UK credit card company Barclaycard has floated the idea that a credit card chip embedded in a mobile phone could also allow shoppers to interact with goods on the shelves of stores.
In this way the calorie count of your daily sandwich could be displayed before you pay for it (via the phone) - and there would be no need to take the sandwich to the checkout. Soon, viable contactless-enabled mobile phones will be available widely, following trials that have already taken place in the UK and elsewhere.
The company is also developing other ‘paperless’ ticketing applications, that might for example be used for train journeys or at the movies. There is already talk of enabling mobile phones to also hold travel tickets for London’s public transport system and tube network.
"The chips on credit cards now have incredible untapped capability but the plastic around the chip limits its potential" said Barclaycard chief executive Antony Jenkins.
"Take the plastic away and the possibilities are endless, allowing the customer to pay by using something that they are already carrying, be it a mobile, key fob or even via biometrics."
The firm already has the UK’s only contactless credit card, currently being rolled out nationwide, and a three-in-one card called OnePulse which brings together a standard credit card, a contactless Oyster card for public transportation and a contactless payment card for small value transactions.
But will credit card statements of the future show calories consumed as well as dollars expended?
Calorie-Counting Cell Phones
Barclaycard Health Tech of the Future
Trend Themes
1. Contactless-enabled Mobile Phones - The embedding of credit card chips in mobile phones could enable easier interactions with goods and display calorie counts, disrupting the way people shop.
2. Paperless Ticketing Applications - Developing ticketing applications for mobile phones could revolutionize travel experiences, allowing for contactless ticketing for train journeys or at the movies.
3. Untapped Potential of Credit Card Chips - Removing the plastic around credit card chips opens up endless possibilities for payment methods, including using mobile phones, key fobs, or biometrics.
Industry Implications
1. Credit Card - Credit card companies can leverage contactless-enabled mobile phones and tap into the untapped potential of credit card chips to create innovative payment solutions.
2. Retail - The retail industry can explore the use of contactless-enabled mobile phones to enhance the shopping experience, allowing customers to easily interact with goods and view nutrition information.
3. Transportation - The transportation industry could benefit from paperless ticketing applications on mobile phones, streamlining the ticketing process for train journeys and other modes of transportation.