How to pay with your phone instead of a card: Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Wallet and NFC

Apple Pay

The system was presented to users in 2014. Over the course of its existence, the software has improved significantly, and the number of iPhones with a built-in NFC chip has increased significantly. Works on models with OS 5/5s and higher. Available in 13 countries.

Top functionality of the system

The most important functions:

• payment in stores, apps, online;
• registration of payment, gift, discount cards;
• the ability to top up bank cards of friends and relatives (currently available only in the USA);
• payment for travel in transport;
• work with NFC tags (automation of the device and other associated gadgets);
• control of other equipment (for example, a car).

Advantages and disadvantages

Apple Pay is available through Wallet software.

Pros and cons of contactless payments

Considering that today the whole world is switching to contactless payment and the impressive list of applications is further confirmation of this, it is worth indicating why this is happening:

1. It's comfortable. No need to carry cash with you. True, this only applies to residents of large cities. You can pay for travel and purchases in the store by phone;
2. It is safe. No one will use the cards added to the application. To make a payment you need to identify yourself. Plus, if you lose your smartphone, you can lock your smartphone remotely;
3. digitized cards do not wear out. There is no threat that the payment instrument will demagnetize or crack in your pocket;
4. This is a good way to save money. You can earn cashback on most purchases. Thanks to electronic accounting, many sellers with home delivery give additional discounts on subsequent purchases or cover delivery at their own expense.

There are also disadvantages. First, most services limit users by the number of linked cards. The system offers to deposit up to 10 means of payment. Secondly, the infrastructure is still underdeveloped; outside the regional stores there are not even regular terminals.

Android Pay

This program for paying by phone using NFC has been in operation since 2015. Works on all devices running Android KitKat version 4.4 and higher that are equipped with NFC. By mid-2022, 15 countries of coverage have been announced and 2 are in the project at the end of the year.

Key functionality of Android Pay

The most popular features include:

• emulation of bank cards (Visa, MasterCard);
• registration of loyalty cards, bonus systems, transport;
• making contactless payments in supermarkets, shops, gas stations, cafes and restaurants;
• possibility of online payments (on sites where there is a special mark).

Advantages and disadvantages

You can download Android Pay:

• from Google Play;
• on our website.

What is NFC on a phone and why is it needed?

What is NFC in a smartphone? NFS is a contactless communication technology that helps exchange data at close range. NFC technology was first launched in 2006, but at that time there were no conditions for using the function, so popularity came later, after 5 years.

Phones that support contactless payments are actively selling, and the areas of use of NFC technology have expanded: the owner of a smartphone pays for purchases by touching the terminal, receives information from NFC sensors, buys travel tickets, plays multimedia files and transfers information from one device to others.

The NFC function is enabled by a pre-built sensor that receives information by sending and receiving a radio signal at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. The chip is built into the phone by the smartphone manufacturer through software installation.

NFC support on a phone makes it easier for the user to complete daily tasks, and to receive additional benefits, the smartphone owner must understand how to use this feature and how to find out if the phone has NFC.

Google Pay

Essentially, Android Pay will merge with Google Wallet in 2022 and transform into Google Pay.

Functional

The merger expanded the capabilities of the hybrid service and added to the functionality of Android Pay:

• linking to the Google account system;
• purchasing applications, subscriptions, services and running programs through the Play Market;
• viewing transaction history.

Advantages and disadvantages

Google Pay download is activated in the Google Market.

The essence of contactless technology

The possibility of instant payment with one touch of the phone to the terminal appeared relatively recently. If previously it was considered a problem to leave the apartment without cash or a plastic card, today a real tragedy is forgetting your phone at home. The advantages of connecting contactless technology to mobile phones are obvious, and all this is thanks to smart NFC technology – near field communication, the translation of which means “close communication”.

Despite the technological revolution, the contactless payment function is not available to everyone and not everywhere. There may be several reasons:

The choice of application is determined by the brand of the phone. Samsung Pay is intended for owners of smartphones, tablets, and smart watches from Samsung, and Apple Pay is a mobile wallet from Apple Corporation.

Samsung Pay

This service was developed and launched in 2015 specifically for users of Samsung devices (similar to iPhones). Works on models starting from Samsung Galaxy Note5.

Top features of the application

The program allows you to use functions such as:

• registration of bank cards;
• Loading loyalty packages (gift, savings);
• payment by transport cards;
• payment in stores and other physical points of sale of goods and services;
• payment online and in separate applications (with special notes);

Advantages and disadvantages

You can download and install Samsung Pay via Google Play.

Conclusion

This article highlights the different options for NFC payment apps. For each of them, a detailed technical data sheet has been collected: year of manufacture, number of countries in which it operates, compatibility with mobile phones from different manufacturers, key features, advantages and disadvantages, sources where you can download the service.

How NFC works

The service is built on RFID systems and creates two-way communication between endpoints. Earlier systems, such as contactless smart cards, were unidirectional. NFC applications were first used in devices running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich , and the feature was then called " Android Beam ". First introduced on Google Nexus.

To process mobile payments, Android Beam uses NFS to enable Bluetooth on both devices, instantly pairs them, and automatically turns off Bluetooth on both devices once the desired transaction is completed. It was also used in Samsung Galaxy with S-Beam .

NFC Tasks Launcher

NFC Tasks Launcher is one of the most popular programs designed for these purposes. It has a rich set of settings, which allows you to solve a wide range of problems. In it, you can configure and easily switch between the “Car”, “Home” and “Office” profiles. You can place an NFC tag in your car, office, home, bedroom or living room, and the smartphone profile will automatically change and programs that you set for specific locations will be launched. The program supports NFC Forum Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 and Type 4 tags, as well as third-party tags.

Setting up contactless payment on your smartphone

Services from Apple, Samsung and Google allow you to make contactless payments using your phone as a card.

Let's figure out how to set up NFC technology and connect cards to the phone.

Step 1: Download the free app from Google Play or the App Store. Google Pay for Android smartphones, Samsung Pay for Samsung smartphones, Apple Pay for iPhone. Or use the recommendations of your smartphone manufacturer. They will help you link your cards to the device.

For example, the manufacturer of my Samsung smartphone recommends 3 applications: Yandex.Money, Tinkoff and GPay.

Step 2: Register in the application of your choice and load your cards into your phone: manually enter basic information or scan (card number, expiration date and three-digit security code). Please note that you can add not only bank cards there, but also bonus or gift cards from stores. But only one card will be used as the main one. If you need to change to another, you will have to enter the application again and select the required one.

No further settings are required. Modern devices allow you to make contactless payments without Internet access.

How secure is NFC?

Since technology is most often used to pay for purchases, the question of its security arises. But owners of smartphones with NFS should not worry. During card emulation, information is transmitted to the terminal using a digital identifier, which is encrypted. In this case, the card number is not read.

In terms of security, the technology's apparent shortcoming shows itself on the positive side - a modest range of action. It will be difficult to intercept the data, since for this the interceptor device must be at a distance of less than 4 centimeters. Plus, the payment will only go through if the user confirms the purchase with a fingerprint or digital code.

Conclusion

Shopping with contactless technology is easy and comfortable. The innovative method has already gained great popularity. Today, more and more advanced users are choosing contactless. The use of contactless technologies allows you to increase the speed of payment compared to “classic” cards with entering a PIN code and signing a receipt. This makes contactless in demand not only among buyers, but also in areas with large flows of people, whose revenue critically depends on the speed of customer service.

If you are already among the users who pay by phone instead of a card, describe your impressions in the comments and don’t forget to rate the article :)

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Author of the article Victoria Pchelinova Freelancer, creative and business

Which banks use the function

Contactless technologies are supported by many banks and payment service providers, but almost all impose restrictions. The most common is the inability to use the service with Mir plastic cards.

Partner banks for mobile payment services:

• Sberbank
• VTB 24
• Tinkoff Bank
• Raiffeisenbank
• Alfa Bank
• Gazprombank
• Rosselkhozbank
• Eastern Bank
• Russian Standard Bank

This is part of the list; the full list of banks can be found in the application that you use for contactless payments by phone.

Instructions

Algorithm of actions when using a phone instead of a card:

1. Unlock your smartphone.
2. Place the back of the phone close to the payment device. If the payment is successful, you will hear a beep and confirmation on the screen.
3. Sometimes you need to enter your card PIN on the screen or sign your name on a check (if you're using a credit card). Such actions may be necessary if the check exceeds 1000 rubles or you tried to pay without unlocking the screen.

In some cases, the transaction cannot be completed. Changing the position of the phone during payment, reducing the distance between the terminal and the mobile device, and increasing the time the mobile phone is held near the payment device can help correct the situation.

How to pay with iPhone

The Apple Pay program is compatible with VTB, Tinkoff and Sberbank payment cards.

There is no need to download the application, since it is already installed on the iPhone by default. However, minimal configuration of the service is required.

To do this you need:

1. Open the built-in Wallet program, designed for contactless payments.
2. Click on the phrase “Add a card”.
3. Enter the user's first and last name and basic card details.
4. Wait until the application automatically checks the compatibility of the plastic card and the remote payment service.
5. To pay with an Apple gadget, you need to double-click the “Home” key, select a card for withdrawal in the running application and bring the device to the terminal. If you have an iPhone X, double-click the button on the side, select a card and confirm the transaction using Face ID. Then bring the iPhone to the terminal and wait for the “Ready” message on the screen.

If there are problems with payment, there may be several reasons, but most often these are bugs with iOS. To restore the contactless payment service, you need to force restart your phone. If that doesn't help, reset the settings to network settings. In the Wallet app, remove and re-attach the card. There are also more ordinary reasons for the service not to work - for example, the case is too closed, an ordinary failure on the bank’s server, or problems with the Internet.

Watch the video on how to set up payment by phone:

What phones support

The presence of an NFC chip is very important today, so many mobile device manufacturers are actively introducing the technology, releasing phones with a built-in module. An additional condition is a specific version of the operating system. It must be at least Android 4.4. or iOS 8.

Brands producing NFC smartphones:

• Apple
• Honor
• Samsung
• ASUS
• Huawei
• Xiaomi
• ZTE
• Nokia

The list of phone brands is constantly being updated. Buyers are increasingly giving preference to mobile devices with wireless payment technology.