A new mobile payments program has started its testing at the fast food chain giant.
McDonald’s has just announced that it is beginning a trial run of its first NFC technology mobile payments program at some of its Canadian restaurant locations.
The service allows individuals with enabled smartphones to simply tap their devices to pay for their meals.
The restaurant chain has partnered with the Interac Association to be able to offer mobile payments through NFC technology enabled smartphones and readers. Interac Flash is the name of the contactless solution that allows for the tap to pay functionality with devices, but also with enabled debit cards from the Interac brand.
The NFC technology allows for a quick and easy tap to pay option within the participating restaurants.
Also partnered in this NFC technology trial is RBC Royal Bank. They have allowed BlackBerry smartphones to be used as the mobile payment method through the bank’s app. The participating companies will be keeping a close eye on the popularity and function of the new service at the restaurant location where the trial is taking place.
According to Interac, this is the first time that an NFC technology contactless service has been available for both debit and mobile payments in the country. According to CEO and president Mark O’Connell, from the Interact Association and Acxsys Corporation, “This achievement in mobile debit innovation helps solidify our role in the mobile payments space in Canada.”
O’Connell added that “Soon, Canadians will be able to use their mobile phones to pay with Interac Flash quickly, conveniently and securely when making everyday purchases,” and that this will help to boost the value for consumers, as well as for the merchants who are using the method, and the other various partner organizations.
The Interac Association is an important partner in this new NFC technology trial, as it is already providing debit card and payments services throughout its Canadian network that includes over 60,000 cash points in addition to 766,000 point of sale terminals across the country. This could provide a massive opportunity for expansion if the McDonald’s trial is successful.
