American Express introduces 'contactless' cards Mon Jun 6, 2005 12:02 PM ET http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=8707794 &src=rss/technologyNews
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American Express (AXP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said it will begin issuing credit cards that are waved in front of a sensor to make payments, following plans announced by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in May to introduce a similar credit card technology . The new cards offer a function already common at many U.S. gas stations. They are an alternative to the traditional cards that are swiped through a machine that reads information embedded in a magnetic strip. American Express's Blue cards with ExpressPay will allow payment to be authorized in seconds and will not require a signature. Convenience store chain 7-Eleven (SE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will test the card in 170 stores and eventually plans to accept it at all its 5,300 stores. CVS Corp. (CVS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) drug stores, East Coast convenience store chain Sheetz Inc. and Ritz Camera will also accept the new cards. American Express said test results showed that, on average, ExpressPay transactions are 63 percent faster than using cash. The new cards also can be used the same way as traditional credit cards with a magnetic strip. The new card payment technology is similar to a contactless system now used by customers at many Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) gas stations. The gas station's payment card has a miniature transponder that is attached to a customer's key chain and is waved in front of an electronic reader at pumps and checkout counters. A credit card or check card designated by the customer is then charged for the purchases. You are a subscribed member of the infowarrior list. Visit www.infowarrior.org for list information or to unsubscribe. This message may be redistributed freely in its entirety. Any and all copyrights appearing in list messages are maintained by their respective owners.
