Orange UK launches NFC enabled credit card, $16 limit … wait, what?

Orange UK teamed up with Barclaycard back in March of 2009, announcing that they’d be working together to roll out NFC to British consumers. “Today you pay for things by cash or on your credit card” said Tom Alexander, CEO of Orange UK. “Tomorrow, you’ll use your mobile to buy the things you want, whether that’s on the high street or the internet.” Here we are, 10 months later, and Orange UK has announced an NFC enabled credit card. I know what you’re thinking, isn’t the sole purpose of NFC enabled mobile payments to eliminate credit cards? Then I got to thinking, there are no worthwhile NFC enabled devices on the market today. You try selling NFC to someone used to owning something like an iPhone or Nokia N97 Mini and then asking them to downgrade to some four digit model number Nokia. This credit card makes sense. It’s also got some nifty features:

• NFC payments only work on purchases £10 ($16) or under. It sucks, but then again I’m sure this limit will change once more NFC readers are deployed.
• Receive an SMS when a payment is made. Useful for parents keeping track of their children, but also useful for adults keeping an eye on their finances.
• Receive an SMS every week or every month with your balance. Useful for people like me who use their cards 20+ times a day and don’t want a text every time they buy a can of Red Bull.
• Points you can redeem at Orange Shops, Marks & Spencer, HMV, various donations, or for trips and special events.

[Reminder: One of my predictions for 2010 was that the next iPhone will have NFC]

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About The Author



Stefan Constantinescu

Stefan Constantinescu (@WhatTheBit on Twitter) has loved technology since as far back as he can remember. It started with computers, but in the past few years his passion has turned to mobile devices. As a mobile phone enthusiast who lives and breathes devices that connect to the internet, he knows he is not alone with this radical fascination of all things wireless. He is strongly opinionated and enjoys a good debate so leave comments in his posts and he’ll get back to you! Stefan began blogging as a hobby in the fall of 2006 and joined IntoMobile in the summer of 2007. Later he got a job at Nokia in March 2008, but as of June 2009 he has rejoined the IntoMobile team. He is currently based out of Helsinki, Finland.
• Plamen

  Every new card that Barclays issues has contactless payment for 10 pound or under.It’s called “Connect” and I have such debit card.

• Stefan Constantinescu

  That’s awesome, didn’t know that, thanks for the heads up! It’s interesting however that an operator is getting into the credit card game. I don’t think that’s ever been done before, or at least I’ve never heard of it.

• Nick Doucet

  I wonder if they will change SMS to email. I know it’s pretty much the same thing, but at least eith email you can keep track of your transactions a little better than SMS.

  That’s just my opinion.

  Nick

• Ben Robinson

  O2 have already done the card thing, before Xmas

• Stefan Constantinescu

  Was it NFC enabled tho?

• Gattem

  I like this technology… this will make life easier. No need
  to maintain a spreadsheet to track daily cash transactions.
  I guess next generation will stop using cash, only virtual money.