http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17754810

I’m not sticking anything on the back of my mobile. It would obscure the Apple logo. It would also give others more of a reason to pinch it.

If I stuck it on the back of my phone it would stop the camera working!

Actually, that wouldn't be a bad thing.

/facepalm. Why would I stick a credit card to the back of my phone then wave it at a terminal when I can just wave the credit card at the terminal instead?

The idea is to get you used to using your phone as a source of funds. The card companies want phones makers to include this functionality as standard.

It's all a ploy to do away with real money. We're nearly there, but there's still a stubborness around that insists on dirty coins and grubby notes. They're like a talisman that everything's alright after all, even though they're only tokens with no intrinsic value. Once the real cash is gone, we won't have any tangible assets any more and the banksters and governments can do what they like with us.

</tinfoil hat>

This tweet from BBC’s tech correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones:


GIven that, he’s opened the flood gate of other places that these cars could be stuck.

Let's assume for a second that I wanted a contactless card (which I don't).
They're suggesting it's a big improvement for me to reach into my right hand pocket, pull out my phone, swipe it and put it away again......
Compared to reaching into my left hand pocket, pulling out my wallet (with normal size contactless card), swiping it and putting it away again.

For you, no, but consider this:

The objective is not for you to use a card on your phone, but your phone itself as an electronic wallet. This is an intermediary step towards that goal.

Retailers will no doubt pay more per transaction than they do for current payment methods, and will be forced into line by consumer demand that will be driven by advertising and familiarity.

Mobile phone operators will stand to take a slice as funds will pass through them either directly or indirectly. For example, you could use credit stored on your phone as opposed to being directly linked to the bank.

So, for you and I, no change. However, it's a money making scheme for the card and phone companies.

If I stuck it on my phone, I wouldn't have it with me, when I go shopping...

What am I saying, I never use a credit card when shopping, I only use it for internet purchases.

I'm sure the idea will quickly move over to all bank cards Dave. Do you pay cash for everything other than internet purposes?

I can just see this now. Someone swipes their card in front of a bowser pump to pay, receives a call and then promptly disappears in a ball of flames.

Everything under about 60-70€, yes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRcnGm97wEQ

From about 3:45.

Its all about getting "Top of Wallet".

In your example unless you only have 1 contactless card in your wallet you will have to "Reach into left pocket, pull out wallet, open wallet, take out card, swip, put card back in wallet, and then put wallet away"

Assuming you only have 1 sticker on the phone they hope this will become your preferred card and so they will make thier money

Barclays gave me a contactless bank card and it interfered with my Oyster card.