Last week PayPal announced a major update to its iOS and Android applications. The update promises some cool, improved features which would help users not only perform mundane PayPal tasks like money transfers or online payments, but also improve their physical shopping experience. Now the eBay-owned company has introduced PayPal Beacon, which allows users to pay for items in a store without ever having to reach for a wallet or card. As reported by gizmodo.com:
“PayPal’s stuck another clever little location-aware payment option into its smartphone app, with the Beacon tool letting users pay for items without even having to sigh and pull a mobile out of a pocket.
“PayPal Beacon requires retailers to install a low-energy USB-powered Bluetooth LE receiver in their stores and attach it to their Point-of-Sale equipment, which has the ability to let app users automatically check-in upon entering a shop. PayPal says users can decide which shops are added to a safe list for unapproved payments and which should require approval, so there shouldn’t be any situations involving accidentally buying everyone in the pub several double drinks.”
According to PayPal’s president David Marcus, the company’s focus was really on simplifying the shopping experience, telling Techradar:
“‘We challenged ourselves to find a better experience than swiping a credit card. We figured the only better way to pay would be to do nothing,’ he said.”
“Just walk in a store, and, like magic, when you’re ready to pay, money is transferred securely. No wallet. No card. Nothing to do. Not even touching your phone.”
While this is cool technology, it would be nice to see if it can be deployed universally.
Check out the video above and take a look at how PayPal Beacon works.
