Around two weeks ago, Visa announced that they’d partnered with a company called DeviceFidelity to build the iPhone case of our dreams: one that would allow us to use our iPhone as a credit card at any of the thousands of retailers who support no-swipe payments. As quickly as it was announced, however, it was gone; around an hour after the press release went up, it got pulled.
It has returned! This time around, it’s got a name — and better yet, we’ve got pictures.
Back in 2009, DeviceFidelity managed to stuff a near-field communications chip into a microSD card. Stuff said microSD card into a compatible phone, and bam – your phone can now act as a contactless credit card, with on-device software unlocking the card for use whenever the user punches in their password. The problem: none of the iPhones released thus far have a microSD slot.
Enter the new case, now dubbed the “In2Pay” (They should have called it the “payPhone”. Get it? Like a pay phone. Hah. Update: Crap. Someone already trademarked it.) Like a handful of third-party external battery cases, this new case plugs into the bottom of the iPhone via the dock connector. This connection provides power and an interface for the SD card. Pop on the case, plug in the microSD card, download the payment app from the App Store — and bam, you’re buying stuff at PetCo like someone from the future and/or Japan.
Check out the full release below:
DeviceFidelity Announces Mobile Contactless Payment Solution for iPhone
Protective case designed to host microSD based contactless apps turning iPhone into a Visa mobile payment device
Richardson, TX – May 17, 2010 – DeviceFidelity, Inc. today announced the availability of its In2Pay™ solution for iPhone, designed to enable iPhone users to make contactless transactions, such as Visa mobile payments, by simply waving the iPhone in front of a contactless payment terminal. The solution combines DeviceFidelity’s In2Pay microSD technology with a specially designed, patent-pending protective case that adds mobile contactless capability and works with iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.
By placing a removable In2Pay microSD into the protective case, iPhone users can take advantage of In2Pay’s secure contactless capabilities where contactless transactions are offered. They range from buying goods in retail stores and at unattended kiosks, to transit ticketing, and even securely accessing buildings and computers networks. Trials are scheduled to start during the second quarter of 2010.
“The more than 200,000 apps on the App Store are an integral part of iPhone users’ lives.” said Amitaabh Malhotra, COO, DeviceFidelity. “With our In2Pay solution, we want to give both iPhone users and app developers the power to do even more, by putting the convenience of interactive secure mobile transactions, right at their fingertips, anywhere they are.”
DeviceFidelity and Visa collaborated to combine Visa’s contactless payment technology, Visa payWave, and In2Pay technology to transform a mobile phone with a microSD memory slot into a mobile contactless payment device. Today’s announcement extends this functionality to iPhone and has the potential to accelerate the adoption of mobile contactless payments globally, especially in geographies where merchants have already upgraded payment terminals to accept contactless transactions.
“Visa is working to bring the security and convenience of digital currency to mobile users around the world,” said Dave Wentker, Head of Mobile Contactless Payments at Visa Inc. “Our collaboration with DeviceFidelity can extend the reach of Visa mobile payments to millions of iPhone users.”
The In2Pay solution gives iPhone users the ability to add greater convenience, flexibility and functionality. The In2Pay solution is designed to stay attached to iPhone and provides a micro USB slot for users to sync and charge their devices. DeviceFidelity’s In2Pay microSD provides secure, convenient one-click access to contactless transactions. Compatible with smart card industry standards, the microSD can be issued and personalized like traditional smart cards or in the future through a secure download of the account information via a mobile network.
DeviceFidelity has multiple patents pending in the USA and several international countries for microSD and handset case based plug-and-play technology. DeviceFidelity has recently launched a partnership program allowing application and Trusted Service Manager system developers to upgrade their NFC solutions by adding support for the In2Pay microSD. The In2Pay microSD can be inserted securely and easily into the In2Pay Case for iPhone.
About DeviceFidelity, Inc.
DeviceFidelity, Inc. develops plug-and-play technologies that empower a variety of institutions to deploy their services and applications on millions of mobile phones worldwide. Its patent-pending In2Pay microSD solution, transforms any mobile phone with a memory card slot into an interactive contactless transaction device. Committed to bringing contactless innovation to the mobile phone, the company has numerous patents pending in both U.S. and international patent offices. DeviceFidelity is a private corporation with headquarters in Richardson, Texas and offices in Foster City, California. For more information, go to www.devicefidelity.com.About Visa
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world’s most advanced processing networks–VisaNet–that is capable of handling more than 10,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.
So that’s cool, but can I use the case to extend an iPhone’s memory with an external microSD card? Do they make cases like that? Now that would be a cute application.
(and for other phones, will they release microSD cards that double as storage and payment devices?)
This is a great proof of concept, but won’t see wide acceptance until it doesn’t require me to give up my pink rhinestone encased battery back case.
Maybe we’ll see this built into the iPhone 5G?
This does not in any way, shape, or form look better than Square. I bet it’s more expensive too!
Square lets you accept payments with an iPhone. This lets you pay with an iPhone.
Now people can suffer twice the amount of panic when they lose their phone….how awesome!
LOL
I see a chicken and egg problem here. There really aren’t that many no-swipe retailers. Until then, you’ll still have to carry a wallet full of credit cards. So why bother with an In2Pay case for the iPhone?
One step closer to my dream of ditching my wallet for good. In the Far East this is commonplace. Phones have this technology built into them. In terms of adoption and usage in this country it’s a chicken/egg conundrum. Have to start somewhere and this offering by Visa is as good as any For all the talk about ‘losing your phone’ we just have to work through it . Throughout time we have heard the naysayers warn of the perils of losing your wallet,checkbook,credit cards, paying on line and now this. Eventually, those affraid to adopt die off and the younger generation makes the new technology commonplace. It’s easy to criticize and destroy harder to build Let people lament about this technology , personally, when I see them at the store writing a check or signing their name so tediously and slowly at the card reader, I will bash them upside the head with my iPhone
Dave Wentker, Head of Mobile Contactless Payments for Visa needs to get to work and start getting retailers on the grid
I like how these guys think it’s more practical to make a whole freakin’ case just for a microSD memory card slot rather than just go for sane mobile platform that already has them in their phones.
What’s most sad about this is that there are MILLIONS more other smartphones out there that DO have a microSD slot, they had to wait to launch it on only one specific device why?
No swipe payments will be everywhere in less than two years.
Yeah, right. Hold your breath.
Who the hell is going to opt into using a custom case (forget the fact that it looks like trash) to extend phone functionality? They are doing this all wrong…
Very good concept. No more credit cards to carry.
Mobile payment is not new. It’s already in existence in Europe and Asia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_payment
There is only one problem is you start shopping, talking on phone etc, by the time you reach the checkout counter your mobile is out of battery. Will there be a special checkout counter “Charge your battery & Pay Counter”? Hahaha.
Would like to see this catch on, but in the mean time my iphone case actually is also a credit card / ID case. It works really well and I wouldnt be without it
http://gizmodo.com/5367007/case+mate-iphone-credit-card-case-review
This will be great when they all start to get stolen!
Instead of some expensive case for an iPhone, why not put the RFID chips in the credit cards already… a much wider audience and cheaper too.
Just think of how great this would have been for the Apple employee who lost the iPhone prototype. He even could have lost the company credit card, that didn’t require a signature, at the same time!
MDM is all set to take care of individual security and personal confidential data issue in case of device loss.
Well, it’s amazing. The miracle has been done. Well done…
Yellow Credit Card
*************
kathy
The business of credit card deals in India is a fast growing sector with more and more banks offering them to their customers. The concept of credit card deals has been changed considerably in the last five years to broaden its base among the people of India. In the modern trend of thinking in India credit cards are no longer an item of luxury. It is perceived as a product of necessity in urban life.
Card Deals
No swipe payments in less than two years.