Rogers clears Suretap NFC payments on some Android and BlackBerry 10 devices
While Canadians got a major NFC payment system through Rogers' Suretap service late last year, it was largely defined by what it couldn't do: there was only one platform to use, in only some places, with only one bank. Those horizons are at last broadening, as the carrier just certified a much wider range of phones for Suretap-capable apps. Android at last joins the party with approval for Suretap use on LG's Optimus G, as well as Samsung's Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II. BlackBerry fans also won't have to cling to older devices now that the Z10 is good to go. More than a few pieces of the NFC puzzle are still missing, of course. Beyond waiting for the apps themselves, there's no certification for Windows Phone 8 or a broad range of Android devices, and customers still don't have the freedom to choose their banks or carriers. Still, we're glad that there will be at least some choice in hardware for future wallet-free trips to Tim Hortons.
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suretap expands to Android and BlackBerry 10 models
suretap ready devices certified by MasterCard and Visa as secure and ready for mobile payment solutions on Android and BlackBerry 10 operating systems
TORONTO, March 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Rogers Communications announced today the certification of its suretap™ service for the Android and BlackBerry 10 operating systems. The certification allows credentials issuers including banks, loyalty and reward programs to develop mobile payment solutions for Android and BlackBerry 10 devices that leverage the secure SIM card in an NFC-enabled device. Rogers suretap service enables smartphones to securely perform payments on mobile devices and as of today, is accepted at tens of thousands of MasterCard PayPass® and Visa payWave® contactless terminals across Canada.
"To continue driving adoption and growth of mobile payments in Canada, it is essential that a strong ecosystem is established to include multiple devices, operating systems and payment networks," said Jeppe Dorff, Vice-President of Transaction Services, Rogers. "We know our customers have strong affinity to the Android platform and we are thrilled to include Android devices amongst smartphones ready to support mobile payment applications built for suretap."
As of today, three Android NFC-enabled smartphones and four BlackBerry® smartphones are suretap mobile-payment-ready - secure and ready for mobile payment solutions to be developed for consumer use. Suretap ready devices now certified as ready to support new mobile payment applications that accept MasterCard and Visa credit cards include:
* BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900, BlackBerry® Curve™ 9360, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9790 and BlackBerry® Z10 models
* LG Optimus G
* Samsung Galaxy S III and Note II models
"The Android operating system holds the largest share of smartphone unit shipments in Canada and in North America today," said Krista Napier, Senior Analyst for Mobility at IDC Canada. "Because of Android's market presence, and Canadians' growing usage of smartphones for many of their daily activities, there is growth potential for mobile payment solutions being offered to Canadians on the Android platform."
Last year Rogers launched suretap, the first mobile payment solution Canada to leverage the secure SIM card inside an NFC-enabled device. Today, tens of thousands of suretap SIM cards are in market and hundreds of thousands of suretap mobile payment -ready devices are being used by Canadians.
For more information about suretap, visit www.rogers.com/suretap.
