Wednesday, March 8, 2006

The Biometrics Are Coming...

The English love nothing better than a nice long queue, but supermarket lines could soon be under threat – a new speedy finger scan payment system has just been launched in the UK.

Developed by biometric giant Pay By Touch, the service will initially be available in three Midcounties Co-op supermarkets in Oxford and will spread to other stores if successful. The sign-up process sounds straightforward enough: you just apply for the free service in-store or on the net, and your account is then activated when you visit a participating store. After that, you get automatically rewarded for your buys with Co-op dividend points. According to Pay By Touch, the system has been very successful in the US where 2.3 million (and growing) shoppers already use it.

Paying for goods using Pay By Touch takes around ten seconds. The system is available in the UK at three Mid-Counties Co-op shops in Oxford, with plans to roll out in Swindon and Gloucester later on.
The initial sign up process can be completed either at home on the Internet or in store. The service is then activated when the consumer visits the supermarket.

Bill Laird, COO, retail, Midcounties Co-op, says: "Our customers are embracing Pay By Touch because it helps them get through the checkout faster without having to hunt for cards, cheques, wallets or purses."

UK shoppers can now pay for goods without cash, cards or cheques, using the new Pay By Touch system. Chip ‘n’ Pin terminals have reduced fraud by 24% this year, but, nevertheless have come under fire for being susceptible to the roaming eyes of thieving "scallywags". Pay By Touch is adamant that the initial response from its trial users has been ‘very encouraging’.

People wishing to check out the new system can find the stores at Co-ops on:


152 London Road, Headington, Oxford;
Blackbourton Road, Carterton, Oxfordshire; and at
228-240 Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford
.

For Coverage Visit the Links Below:

Shoppers pay by fingerprint Edinburgh Evening News, UK
Co-op stores in the Oxford area are offering the service, which is said to be the first of its kind in Europe. It means shoppers ...

Don't forget your finger Find.co.uk, UK
Soon, you won't need to remember your wallet or even your pesky chip and pin digits when you go to the shops, thanks to a new system set to ...

Fingerprints 'point' to anti-ID theft safeguard 24dash.com, UK
Identity fraud remains the fastest rising crime in the UK but fingerprints could point the way towards prevention. The Co-Operative ...

Supermarket launches fingerprint payments InTheNews.co.uk, UK
A leading UK supermarket chain has launched a trial scheme enabling customers to pay for their purchases by touching a finger on a scanner. ...

UK's Midcounties Co-op live with Pay By Touch biometric payments ...Finextra, UK -
California-based Pay By Touch says its biometric authentication technology has been rolled out at Midcounties Co-operative supermarkets in the UK. ...

Pay By Touch goes live MyFinances.co.uk, UK
UK shoppers can now pay for goods without cash, cards or cheques, using the new Pay By Touch system. Under the new system, fingerprint ...

Co-op goes live with fingerprint payments Retail Bulletin, UK
The Midcounties Co-operative goes live with its fingerprint payment system on March 8 starting in Oxford with its Headington store and following next week with ...

Pay By Touch hits the UK Stuff Magazine, UK
The English love nothing better than a nice long queue, but supermarket lines could soon be under threat – a new speedy finger scan payment system has just ...