Barclaycard leads the way to a contactless Britain

Barclaycard today announced its plans to issue over one million contactless cards this year. Cards will be issued across the UK as the card issuer begins its plans to upgrade cards with contactless technology.

Barclaycard began issuing contactless enabled cards in London in September 2007 with the launch of Barclaycard OnePulse, the 3-in-1 card featuring Oyster, credit and contactless payment functions. At the same time in London, Barclaycard Business launched OneTouch, its in-store contactless payment acceptance technology. Following the success of this London launch Barclaycard Business began its national rollout of contactless technology and now has more than 4,000 retail outlets across the UK with live OneTouch terminals. The company is on track to have up to 20,000 outlets live by the end of 2008.

Elizabeth G. Chambers, Chief Marketing Officer at Barclaycard, said, “In 2007 Barclaycard publicly stated its ambition to make contactless payments a reality in the UK. Our announcement today shows that this ambition is being achieved. Many retailers and consumers are now realising the benefits of fast, secure contactless payments and we are confident that interest will continue to grow across the UK.” Of the 4,000 retail outlets already live, more than 2,000 are now outside Greater London, spanning a wide range of consumer spending categories. The range of merchants accepting contactless transactions includes names as diverse as Rowlands Pharmacy, a 500-strong national chain with more than 500 terminals live in the UK and Mind, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales, with 94 terminals live.

Other retailers now set to go live with OneTouch terminals include The National Trust, which will roll out 500 terminals in its gift shops, tearooms, restaurants and admission payment points across the UK. Thousands of other merchants are adopting the innovative new technology each month.

The OneTouch technology is particularly suited to outlets where fast and convenient transactions are needed such as fast food outlets, coffee shops, newsagents, off licenses, bars, pubs, parking facilities and vending machines. Cardholders simply need to touch their card against the reader instead of entering a PIN or signing. The transaction is secure and offers both retailer and customer fewer delays and shorter queues.