Catch up on stories from the past week (and beyond) at the Slashdot story archive

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Microsoft The Almighty Buck Wireless Networking

Microsoft Launches NFC Payments For Windows 10 Phones (nfcworld.com) 76

Posted by msmash from the finally-it-is-happening dept.
Microsoft has finally added support for NFC payments to its mobile operating system Windows 10 Mobile. The company this week introduced the feature in an update to Microsoft Wallet app. Users will now be able to make mobile payments with their MasterCard or Visa accounts. The feature is now available to eligible Windows 10 Mobile handset users who are part of Windows Insiders program. Other users will get it with Windows 10 Anniversary Update in a few months. From a blog post on NFC World: Supporting banks and credit unions include Bank of America, BECU, Chase, First Tech, Fifth Third Bank, People's United Bank, US Bank and Virginia Credit Union. The launch date for each bank will be "posted when available," according to Microsoft. "Microsoft Wallet is a cloud-based payment technology that will make mobile payments simple and more secure for Windows 10 Mobile devices, starting in the US with our Lumia 950, 950 XL and 650," the company says. "With Microsoft Wallet, you simply tap your phone on a contactless payment terminal and your default credit or debit card is charged.
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Microsoft Launches NFC Payments For Windows 10 Phones More

Microsoft Launches NFC Payments For Windows 10 Phones

Comments Filter:

  • ... that moment when you lose you phone and realise that not only will someone have access to all your contacts and logins, but they can potentially clean out your bank account too. Isn't progress wonderful?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Winckle ( 870180 )

      Idiotic scaremongering aside, you probably need a thumbprint or PIN code to pay, just like on android or apple pay.

      But sure make the sarcastic first post.

      • Idiotic scaremongering aside, you probably need a thumbprint or PIN code to pay, just like on android or apple pay.

        But sure make the sarcastic first post.

        Your confidence in Windows security is summed up nicely here.

        Thanks. I needed that laugh today.

    • Yeah..I"m wondering, are there THAT many people out there that want to and actually use their phones to keep all their CC info on to pay with?

      I just don't want or trust it really....

      • But think how convenient it is. You can replace a thin piece of plastic that doesn't require a battery with a device many times the size that does!

  • Windows Phones... Do they sell them? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by __aaclcg7560 ( 824291 ) on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @09:47AM (#52366237)
    My friend works at a Sprint store. They have a Windows Phone in the back. No one is asking to see it, no one is demanding to buy it. A failed relic that belongs in the dustbin of history.
    • They do? I tried to buy one, but they didn't offer any of the Lumias at Sprint, so I ended up buying a Nexus from Google
      Can't even find Windows phones on their online site https://www.sprint.com/shop/?I... [sprint.com]

    • I heard stores keep WP devices out of sight because of the very high return rate from dissatisfied consumers.

    • Re:Windows Phones... Do they sell them? (Score:4, Informative)

      by CastrTroy ( 595695 ) on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @10:07AM (#52366387)

      You can buy them unlocked directly from Microsoft [microsoftstore.com] on their website. No need to get the carrier involved.

      Also, why would anybody ask to see the phones if they are in the back? Most people would probably assume that the only phones that are available at the store are the ones on display.This is probably a lot to do with why they aren't catching on more. People don't see the phones at any of the stores, so they don't even think about getting one.

      Personally, I like Windows phone a lot more than iOS or Android. The whole experience is a lot better, and I get updates much more often. With my old Android phone, I never got a single update from the way they shipped it from the factory.

      • They're probably concerned with windows phone's rather high return rate. If they only make them available to people who specifically ask for them, then they can reduce the return rate.

        If Microsoft wants to solve that problem, then they should have taken their own UI design advice, which the tile interface completely ignores:

        https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.c... [microsoft.com]

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by DogDude ( 805747 )
          The tile interface is the main reason I use the Windows Phone. The interface on Android and Apple look like my grandfather's Windows 95 desktop. Tons of unrelated icons on a grid? Really? You think that's really better than the customizable tiles?

          • The fact that Tiles make Windows Phone look like AOL from 95 is besides the point, right?

            Besides, My android home screens are exactly what I want, minimalistic, with only the icons for the six or eight things I regularly use, and everything else in the App Drawer (hidden). And the number of customizable Widgets (think "smart tiles") is way more numerous than any smart tile options Microsoft thinks its users want.

          • The tile interface is the main reason I use the Windows Phone. The interface on Android and Apple look like my grandfather's Windows 95 desktop. Tons of unrelated icons on a grid? Really? You think that's really better than the customizable tiles?

            You can group icons under folders on both iOS and Android. I have both Android and iOS devices. Tiles on windows phone remind me of AOL or Compuserve from the 80's.

          • The interface on Android and Apple look like my grandfather's Windows 95 desktop. Tons of unrelated icons on a grid? Really? You think that's really better than the customizable tiles?

            I think the Android approach is better than that found in iOS and Windows Phone: A fully interactive widget when you need it, and an icon with space when you don't. Oh and did I mention that Windows Phone's "live" tiles are neither live nor interactive? They can only be updated once every 15 minutes at best, and the only thing you can do with them is tap to open the app, and flip in an interval that you have no control over. Android widgets meanwhile can scroll, show real-time information, and have individu

    • Sprint has always been awful with Windows Phone. Even when it was new and Sprint was still selling Windows Mobile devices, I basically had to beg them to sell me an HTC 7 Pro/HTC Arrive. That said, Microsoft shot themselves in the foot during the Nokia devices buyout, and I can't see anybody pushing it. Windows Phone has always had a lot of neat things, but after switching from my Lumia 925 to my Xperia Z3 and seeing how Microsoft has been treating the OS, I have no reason to go back.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by DogDude ( 805747 )
      That's funny. I'm on my third Windows Phone. My first two were at Sprint. Then, when I needed a new one, Sprint told me that it would be 6 months before they had even a single Windows Phone available to sell me. I switched to Verizon and got my newest Windows Phone there.

      • Great, so now you get to pay double for your phone service with Verizon, America's most expensive carrier.

    • It's really unfortunate and I'm one of the Windows mobile user moving away due to their failure at grabbing a substantial portion of the market. I gave them a shot and they can't seem to overcome the hurdle.

      Unfortunately I feel that neither Android or IOS fits the bill for every user. Android is flexible and has a huge apps list but it still lacks consistency between devices and OS versions. Additionally their backup/recovery system although better than before is still clunky between major OS versions. The

      • Aren't they working hard on natively supporting apks, so they can import the Google app store?

        • I believe they are working 2 different angles with apks being one of them.

          The reality is that they look like the black sheep at this point. Convincing people to buy their product will require them to give a lot of it for free.

  • ...why? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by ilsaloving ( 1534307 ) on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @09:48AM (#52366247)

    I thought Microsoft is abandoning the mobile platform entirely, because of overwhelmingly poor sales.

    Also... considering their hideous track record for security in general (Most recently: https://threatpost.com/office-... [threatpost.com] which was nothing short of breathtakingly boneheaded...), even if I had a Windows Phone (which I never will), I would never trust it to hold something as important as my credit card details.

    • Re:...why? (Score:4)

      by DogDude ( 805747 ) on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @10:32AM (#52366539)
      MS never said they were abandoning their mobile platform. You must be confused by the never ending train of articles on /. by self-appointed "experts" who say Windows Phone is dead. MS never announced any such thing.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by SeaFox ( 739806 )

        MS never announced any such thing.

        Microsoft rarely announces they are abandoning a product line they have recently been promoting. They just stop releasing new products in the line, then the frequency of updates to existing released models slows (if applicable)... then three or so years later, when most people have changed off out of frustration, do they EOL of the product. That was what happened with Zune, too.

  • ...dozens of people rejoice!

  • Finally? (Score:3)

    by Richard_at_work ( 517087 ) on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @09:49AM (#52366255)

    You've been able to do this for ages in Windows 10 for Phones:

    1. Settings
    2. Devices
    3. NFC
    4. Tap to pay

    It defaults to adding the cost to your phone bill, but you can add additional cards and payment method management apps as well.

    I've been buying stuff using a linked card for 6 months now.

    This just sounds like MS are adding an easier management system to it all and thats whats been noticed.

    • You've been able to do this for ages in Windows 10 for Phones:

      1. Settings 2. Devices 3. NFC 4. Tap to pay

      It defaults to adding the cost to your phone bill, but you can add additional cards and payment method management apps as well.

      I've been buying stuff using a linked card for 6 months now.

      This just sounds like MS are adding an easier management system to it all and thats whats been noticed.

      Cool. So I guess it is kind of nice to be able to have the entire userbase of windows 10 phone have a meetup at a local Starbucks. ;) Did you ask the other guy what he thinks of the feature?

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion

  • If you tap it, how is that contactless?

  • They started stealing from debit cards [huffingtonpost.com]. Do you think they aren't already planning to do the same to your bank account via NFC?

    • This isn't going to be based on the same tech, if it works anything like the Android variant. In other words, your phone doesn't just send your account numbers to anybody who asks, and even when you approve it to do so, it sends a one time code that is useless afterwards.

      Phone based NFC payments are by far more secure than any other common payment method, to be honest, particularly if you use fingerprint authentication combined with a pin, because somebody would not only have to capture your print, but shou

    • Prepaid debit cards, which hold the funds in a sort of anonymous way. Which is something criminals often use to move large sums of cash.

      While the same scanners will work with cards linked to actual accounts, the civil forfeiture program doesn't allow forfeiture in that case. It does allow the confiscation of more than $X or cash equivalents. Which debit cards are.

      TL;DR this doesn't change any of the legal requirements, nor whether those particular cards were confiscatible. It just changes whether a tro

  • Comment removed (Score:3)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Wednesday June 22, 2016 @10:08AM (#52366391)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  • Fun fact: Nokia had a mobile payment system back in 2010, which was wildly successful in India and was about to be launched in other developing countries. Yet, they shut it down in 2012. [thehindubusinessline.com] Guess why? Because that service was compatible with Nokia's own systems - S40, Symbian, Meego - but not with shitty Windows Phone!

  • Both of them?

  • I can imagine that the billions of Windows Phone users must be thrilled to have this feature first, years before the competition. It's no wonder that Windows Phone is the leader in mobile operating systems.

    What will Microsoft think of next?

    Suck it, Google! Kiss my ass, Apple!

  • As in "Nobody F***ing Cares" ?
    They've had that feature since inception!

Slashdot Top Deals

news: gotcha

Close