We are going to explain in the simplest way possible how to pay with your mobile, telling you the requirements that your mobile must have and the main applications with which you will be able to do it. Today, the mobile is replacing more and more things, and credit cards are one of them thanks to the advantages of mobile payments.
The main benefit is that, whether we like it or not, today it is easier to lose your wallet without realizing it than what happens to you with your mobile. We always carry it with us, and to this, we must add that a biometric factor can be added to the payments. You can only use them after verifying your identity with your fingerprint or your face, and this can be more secure than using a PIN, especially if you commit the irresponsibility of putting important and easily guessable dates.
What do you need to have to pay with your mobile?
The only requirement that your mobile phone must meet to be able to make payments with it directly at store terminals is to have an NFC chip installed. As of today, most mid-range and higher-end devices have NFC, but in case of doubt, you should find out if a new mobile that you plan to buy has it or not. Here you have our article on how to know if your mobile has NFC in case you need it.
The NFC acts on the mobile just like the RFID chips of the bank cards with which you can pay by touch. In both cases, a low-intensity electromagnetic field is generated that business dataphones recognize. Therefore, always speaking in general when stores have modern POS machines, if you can pay with the card’s chip, it is normal that you can also do it with your mobile using NFC.
In addition to the NFC on the mobile and the payment system of the establishment where you are going to buy, you will also need to have an application on the mobile that acts as an intermediary and manages the payment. These are the applications that we are going to talk about below, which are the ones in which you register, enter the bank details by registering your card, and it is in charge of acting as an intermediary and converting your mobile into a payment system.
Main applications to make payments
- Your bank’s app: Before you start, you should know that your bank’s mobile application may also have a wallet section with which to configure mobile payments. Where it is will depend on each one, but it is generally one of the services offered by the main banks.
- Google Pay – Google Pay is the mobile payments app built for Google and compatible with Android and iOS devices. All you need is to install it and identify yourself using the Google account you already have on your Android mobile, and then register the compatible bank cards. It is also used for online payments in Google stores.
- Apple Pay: This is the mobile payment system created by Apple for all its own devices from the iPhone SE to and iPhone 6. It is not compatible with Android, and in addition to bank cards, you can also enter compatible loyalty cards, which are not too many.
- Samsung Pay: Samsung also has its payment system designed for its devices, and it stands out as a system of points and rewards for using it. It is difficult to compete with Google Generic, but Samsung’s is also quite important.
- There are cases like that of Huawei, which does not have a specific application for mobile payments, but rather it is a system incorporated directly into its customization layer. It’s in your ID settings.
- They are not mobile payments but online, but there are also some applications worth mentioning for payments between users, such as Twyp, PayPal, and Bizum.
Sharlene Meriel is an avid gamer with a knack for technology. He has been writing about the latest technologies for the past 5 years. His contribution in technology journalism has been noteworthy. He is also a day trader with interest in the Forex market.
