Contactless payments - just hype?

The research* from the independent market analyst has revealed that despite the huge potential market open to contactless payments the economic downturn has delayed issuers other than Barclaycard from investing in the technology as they just haven't been able to spend money on it. Meanwhile many retailers are not sure yet if contactless is worth the investment.

Gilles Ubaghs, financial analyst at Datamonitor said: "Retailers could likely find the cash if they were convinced it was worthwhile, but many don't seem sure there is any real point. Essentially it is a catch 22 as many consumers aren't interested in having a contactless payment card when there are still so few places to use it and retailers don't want to install the technology as so few people have a card."

Investment by other issuers is needed

However, Datamonitor does believe that there are promising long term signs that the technology could take off but it won't be as soon as many analysts predict.

Ubaghs continued "Although contactless payments have been around for nearly 10 years, Barclaycard and London's Oyster travel card remain the only two high profile companies to offer contactless cards. Investment by other issuers is needed, not only in the technology itself but in educating consumers as well. Consumers will need to be convinced that it is worth their while to use the new technology"

"Importantly, for consumers to be sold on using contactless payments retailers and issuers will need to work together and as this is yet to happen on a large scale. It will be a good deal of time before we're able to walk into any shop and buy a chocolate bar in the same way as London commuters tap their Oyster cards."