6 September 2007
A contactless 'touch and go' credit card has been launched in the UK
Mastercard's new PayPass system, which has been rolled out in selected stores in London, allows consumers to buy items costing less than £10 without having to enter their PIN number into a machine at the checkout.
Shoppers simply touch their card on a specially designed reader, enabling them to pay for small items automatically, either by adding to their credit card or deducted from their bank account.
According to Mastercard 1,000 outlets have already signed up to accept the cards, including snack food chain Eat and off licence Threshers.The launch of PayPass comes just ahead of a similar system, Barclaycard's OnePulse card which is set to be released next week.
Mastercard spokesman Oliver Steeley said that the technology would help to reduce shop queues and make life easier for its customers.
Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live he said: "We're simply responding to the consumer need for speed and convenience, particularly at busy times of the day."
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