Remember the “world’s first” contactless payment jacket we featured a few months ago? Well, if it’s not really your style, or you haven’t got £150 to spend, then you might want to take a look at a new range of contactless payment accessories which will soon be available in Topshop stores.
The “TOPSHOP x bPay” collection is a range of accessories that incorporate bPay by Barclaycard contactless payment technology.
The collection comes in two designs: a bold monster fish print which will be available in selected Topshop stores and online at topshop.com from 17th November 2015, and a luxe metal and snake effect design, which will be available later this year. The range includes wristbands, smartphone cases, stickers – which can be put on accessories or gadgets – and key chains, all created to discreetly hold the small bPay contactless chip. The chip links to a secure digital wallet, enabling customers to shop with style and ease wherever they see the contactless symbol ().
Launched by Barclaycard in 2014, bPay is available to anyone with a UK-registered Visa or MasterCard debit or credit card, not just Barclaycard and Barclays customers. Users conveniently add funds to their digital wallet on-the-go using a mobile app, online through the bPay web portal, or via an automatic top-up which adds funds when their balance falls below a pre-set level.
The launch of this range comes after the upper limit for contactless payments in the UK increased to £30 and will allow users to make payments at over 300,000 locations across the UK. According to the UK Cards Association, more than £2.5 billion was spent using contactless cards in the first half of 2015, compared to £2.32 billion in the whole of 2014.
Tami Hargreaves, Commercial Director, Digital Consumer Payments at Barclaycard said:
“This is a really exciting partnership with TOPSHOP and marks the first time that our bPay chip is being incorporated into a product range from a major fashion retailer.
“The collaboration shows how the worlds of fashion and technology can combine to create a stylish and easy new way for people to pay using contactless, for everyday things – be it a morning coffee, a new lipstick or a bus trip across town.â€
Safer than carrying cash and just as secure as any credit and debit card, all payments come with the same fraud protection that is applied to contactless cards. If lost or stolen, users can instantly shut down their contactless accessory via the bPay mobile app or bPay website.
So what do you reckon? Is this type of contactless wearable accessory going to push the use of contactless payments, or is it just a gimmick which will struggle to take off? Let us know in the comments below.