9 March 2006
Innovative new fingerprint scan technology could herald a shift away from the credit card dependency of British consumers.
Shoppers at a Midcounties Co-operative supermarket in Oxford have begun trialling a system whereby they pay for their goods simply by using their fingers.
Devised by Pay By Touch, the biometric authentication process is linked to an individual's bank details, meaning they can pay securely and instantly without the need for a wallet stuffed full of debit cards, credit cards and cash.
Three of the Co-op supermarkets in the region will offer the system, with chief operating officer Bill Laird hailing the impact of the new hi-tech scheme.
"Initial response from our members to this new service has been very encouraging, and we are delighted to be the first UK retailer to offer a more secure and convenient way to pay and receive dividend points," he said.
"Our customers are embracing Pay By Touch because it helps them get through the checkout faster without having to hunt for cards, checks, wallets or purses."
Biometric technology has come to the fore in recent years, with the government currently studying the potential for its use in identification cards amid some concerns over the implications for privacy.
Nevertheless, the ability to pay for goods securely and without the need for plastic cards could prove a popular idea given that a recent study by Apacs showed there were 8.3 billion transactions on UK issued cards in 2004.
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