NFC technology has become a more common feature within most of the smartphones, phablets and tablets that have hit the market these days, but some still wonder if it is really anything to get excited about. For the most part, the NFC technology is used for mobile payment solutions, but it can be used for other processes as well, none of which are all that popular right now. The NFC features are slowly starting to come around and PayPal is releasing a new payment solution that will take a little bit way from the technology as we know it.
PayPal recently announced, Beacon, a completely hands-free payment solution that is used with the Bluetooth hardware to transmit the data needed to complete payment to participating retailers around the country. So, rather than using the very convenient NFC technology built into most smartphones today, PayPal goes a different direction and adds the Bluetooth hardware to the list of ways you can transmit payment data to an accepting retailer. Retailers will be able to set the service up at their registers and customers will be able to buy things without even having to handle their smartphones.
Those that want to use the service, will be allowed to tell PayPal which stores can access the payment information automatically, while others can be added to a list that would require approval before payment can be made by the customer. The “safe list” will hold all of those store that you feel can take the payment information automatically. If the store is on your safe list, you will be able to shop, move to the register and buy the products without having to actually exchange any payment physically. This could possibly be a life saver if you are shopping in a big box store for the holidays and want to avoid standing in line behind those that still write checks.
Once you walk into a store that is ready to use Beacon, you will get a notification that you are checked into the store. Store associates will also be notified that you arrived and have the Beacon service live and will be able to offer you assistance more quickly than normal. PayPal did not elaborate what the actual checkout process would be, but just noted that customers will not have to do anything once they are ready to checkout. The Beacon does not use GPS and the check-in alert can be disabled according to PayPal in regards to privacy and security.
