The repeated lockdowns and the countless restrictive measures to which we have been subjected since the beginning of the coronavirus emergency have created many difficulties for commercial activities. Not only masks and social distancing, but also contact with payment cards and cash can be a vehicle of contagion. Also for this reason there are many people who are looking for information on contactless payment methods. In fact, these systems do not provide for direct interaction between the consumer and the cashier. Over the years, smartphones (and even some smartwatches ) have evolved considerably, integrating functions such as NFC Near-Field Communication). The same has been done by apps, which take advantage of these hardware functions, or (for example) the QR-Code (Quick Response) barcodes.
NFC technology for contactless payments
NFC is an acronym for "Near Field Communication". This technology allows two devices to connect to each other through a wireless system to exchanging even complex data by simply touching each other, or at least being at a short distance from each other. This is exactly what happens when the smartphone is brought close to the POS card reader: thanks to NFC, information is exchanged between the smartphone and the POS , which then successfully lead to an economic transaction. For communication to take place, the distance between the smartphone and the POS must be less than 4 centimetres.
The alternative for payments via app: the QRcode
In this case the payment takes place when the smartphone with its camera frames the QRcode, created by the cash register or by the merchant's smartphone. QRcod, or Quick-Response, is a special code that contains text. In other words, it is a square made up of graphic signs arranged in different ways, depending on the information it contains. Qrcodes contain much more information than a traditional barcode, and for this reason they are also suitable for use in payment apps.
Thanks to the combined action of apps and mobile devices, users can now count on various contactless payment methods in addition to credit or debit cards.
To pay with the Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay applications, we will use credit, debit or prepaid cards issued by banks or payment institutions. How? Simple, by entering the card data into the "virtual wallets" or Wallets. Once this is done, thanks to the aforementioned NFC technology, we will use the smartphone as a virtual credit card, paying the merchant for the purchase made without any physical interaction.
Apple Pay
This is the Apple payment system available for iPhone (supported from model 6 onwards), iPad and Apple Watch. This is not an app to download: in fact, Apple Pay is an integral part of iOS and it is sufficient to combine a payment card or prepaid account with the Wallet already present in the Apple device, enter your credentials on the device and use Touch ID or facial recognition to authorize payment. Apple Pay is compatible with many of credit and debit cards from major banks, and support is growing steadily. The Cupertino company has created a special page with the always updated list.
The presence of biometric authentication systems guarantees users the security of this payment method. Apple Pay is one of the pioneers of contactless payments, and also for this reason (in addition to the great diffusion of bitten apple devices in Italy) it is accepted in many shops.
Google Pay
Google Pay is Android's answer to Apple's payment system, and is equally simple to use and widespread throughout the country. The Google Pay app can be downloaded from the Play Store and is compatible with smartphones equipped with Android 5.0 and later, and with smartwatches with the Wear OS operating system. We too have used Google Pay on numerous occasions, such as to pay for access to the Milanese subway.
With Google Pay, you can enter the data of your payment systems, choose which one you prefer to use for each individual transaction and pay by bringing your smartphone close to the merchant's POS thanks to NFC technology. Again, security is guaranteed by biometric authentication systems. In fact, the mere fact of having NFC activated on the device does not imply any risk: it is necessary to unlock the phone, open the Google Pay app and approach the terminal to carry out the transaction: the risks of both scams and accidental payments are virtually non-existent.
Samsung Pay
To use Samsung Pay, you need to download the Samsung Pay application and register the service with your Samsung account. The range of devices from the Korean manufacturer with which Samsung Pay is very wide, starting from decidedly dated smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge +; support also extends to the Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active2, Galaxy Watch Active, Gear S3 and Gear Sport smartwatches. To complete the registration it will therefore be necessary to add the payment card, even if only by framing it with the smartphone camera.
It can be used on all contactless POS because it supports NFC technology. The only limit, which is common to all apps, is that it can only be used with certain payment cards, from banks or institutes that have signed agreements with Samsung. However, the choice is wide and includes the major banking institutions in the country.
Satispay
If the Apple, Google and Samsung apps are similar in terms of operating principle, Satispay is decidedly different. First of all, Satispay does not use payment cards or NFC technology: Satispay feeds itself directly from the private current account (or from the rechargeable card with IBAN code). Security has guided the company's choices, given that the IBAN, unlike the credit card number, cannot be used to make payments. In fact, the debit is only allowed to financial institutions through a mandate authorized by the account holder . Furthermore, Satispay does not use NFC technology but only the QR code. Each user can set their own budget, which indicates the amount of money they wish to have on their accounts each week. The first time the budget is set, the selected amount is transferred from your bank account to your Satispay account. At the end of the week the budget is checked; if the remaining amount (thanks to the numerous cashback offers) is higher, the excess difference will be credited to the current account. If, on the other hand, the remaining amount is less than the budget, the difference will be debited from the current account to restore it.
Hype
Hype is a rechargeable card-account, easily managed via the app. It is possible to send and receive wire transfers, withdraw cash from bank branches, top up the card, exchange money with other Hype customers. The top up operation is very simple: in addition to some supermarkets, it is in fact possible to refer to the over 50,000 SisalPay present in throughout Italy Furthermore, with Hype Next and Hype Premium (paid offers) you can share your Iban and automatically receive your salary credit. Opening an account with Hype is simple: 5 minutes is enough to get your account and card.< /b> The procedure is entirely online, and the card will be delivered to your home in about two weeks. Available for iOS, Android and Huawei Mobile Services, Hype can also be integrated as a payment method in both Apple Pay and Google Pay. It is possible to pay, with card, or with smartphone< /b> in partner shops. Through the app, all types of bills can also be paid and it is possible to make telephone top-ups.
Security: here's what to pay attention to
What worries users the most, when it comes to payments via smartphone, is the issue of security. In reality, it is undoubtedly more dangerous to lose your wallets. Indeed, if you lose your mobile phone you can use the Find My Phone functions, available for both iOS and Android. Through this function, we will be able to search for the lost or stolen smartphone, block it, and even initialize it by deleting all its contents. Furthermore, blocking the accounts of all the apps we have mentioned is very simple and can be managed completely independently by users.
The level of attention of users contributes to further increasing the level of security. According to research by the Observatory of the Milan Polytechnic, people are much more attentive to their mobile phones than to their wallets. The research indicates that the average time it takes to notice the loss is respectively 15 minutes for the phone and 2 hours for the wallet. This obviously significantly reduces the possibility for the thief to make fraudulent purchases with the smartphone on which there is a payment app.