O2 Wallet: Oyster card, Barclaycard and phone in one
Tags: nokia, installed, trial, cash
Forget carrying around a separate mobile phone, credit card and Oyster card -- according to O2, in the future we'll only need one device. At a press conference this morning, O2 announced the start of a trial that will see 500 people test out a system called O2 Wallet.
O2 Wallet is essentially a mobile phone (in the trial it will be a modified Nokia 6131) that acts as an Oyster card and a credit card. Similar to Londoners' current Oyster cards, you simply have to tap the phone against card readers in Tube stations for it to debit the appropriate fare. Making payments for other goods and services is equally simple.
The concept isn't new and uses near-field communications (NFC) technology that's been around for some time, although this is the first time it's been trialled in the UK on this scale. NFC will also allow users to pick up downloads such as ring tones or wallpapers, for example, by simply tapping advertising posters with chips in them.
The trial will last for six months, after which all of the companies involved, including Transport for London, TranSys, Barclaycard, Visa Europe, Nokia and AEG, will decide what to do next. If the trial proves successful, we might see this system rolled out to the high street by the end of next year.
While we're impressed with the O2 Wallet's versatility, we're still uncertain of a few issues the system might bring up. Click on the next photo to find out what's got us a little concerned.
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AnonymousThu 29 November, 2007 12:13pm
Ultimately, I will wait until this is released as they made promises about Oyster that I haven't seen materialise. The main selling point pre-release was that you could just wave a bag over the reader/sensor and pass through - no more fiddling for your pass. People who use the system now know that you have to take the card out and hold the card/card holder directly over the sensor. Not a major inconvenience, but the point is that it's not what was promised.
Being able to add funds to your card at home over the Internet as you currently can with an Oyster card would be useful. Surely technology is supposed to take us forward? So, let us do what we can do with Oyster cards now, and add functionality on top - don't take useful functionality away and tell us it's an upgrade.
Also, when inspectors check you Oyster card now, they insist on seeing a photo card. In future will we have to carry that around as well? If so, there's little advantage to having the Oyster card on your mobile as you will still have to carry around the accompanying photo ID. For me, that would just leave the micropayments feature of the new chip as a selling point as I hate carrying cash and ATMs no longer allow you to withdraw £5 for small purchases - but that's another rant!
ryan at lgThu 29 November, 2007 2:46pm
the above commenter makes some false comments. It is untrue for instance that you need to hold the card directly on the reader when using the machines.
This project as whole whilst on the cards for a long time is never the less valid and useful. I personally hope something comes of it. Convergence is fast becoming a key feature of technology.
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AnonymousWed 28 November, 2007 9:17pm
I can't wait, because my N95 is still not popular enough with the huge amounts of pick-pocketers in London...