O2 launches mobile phone payment pilot in the UK

“Research shows that people are more likely to return home if they leave their phone behind than their wallet or keys, so why not have your wallet on your phone?” said O2 UK’s customer director, Cath Keers.

O2 UK, part of Spain’s Telefónica invited 500 London customers to participate in the six-month O2 Wallet trail. The participants were issued a Nokia 6131 NFC handset that comes with a virtual Oyster card for travel on London’s public transport system and a Barclaycard with £200 worth of credit.

The trialists, which are a mixture of pre-pay and post-pay customers, will be able to tap their mobile phone to purchase goods for £10 or less in retail outlets, for travel in the Capital, and on selected smart posters that contain embedded tags.