NFC mobile payments

[ukcouple]

NFC = (Near-field communication).

I have this NFC function on my phone but have never used it.. forgot it was there.

So.. is anybody using NFC for electronic payments.?

 

[El_Goretto]

Not really because it's not well implemented yet.

It's possible to load up the mandiri app and use the phone to pay for toll at the e-toll gate but I'd rather not, too scared that I could drop the phone inadvertently (let alone snatching thieves). Since those e-toll, e-money, indomaret, etc cards all use NFC, I suppose the phone could be used to pay wherever those cards are accepted. For me, still too much trouble.

I do use the NFC function to check the balance on my e-toll card though. Very practical.

Curious to know if there are other more widespread NFC payment methods.

 

[Davita]

I noticed the e-toll card has to be placed on top of the reader and our taxi driver did drop one. If the NFC smartphone had to be held so close I'd agree with E-G as to safety.
If NFC phones were more powerful, so that proximity was less restrictive, it would be useful to use in my apartment elevator....I'd like to walk-in and the elevator auto-take me directly to my floor....cool!

 

[Euc-]

I do use the NFC function to check the balance on my e-toll card though. Very practical.

How do you do that? Any special app or something?

 

[El_Goretto]

How do you do that? Any special app or something?

Yep, for Android, you need e-money info (by Mandiri).

And if you have a Mandiri account, you can top-up your emoney card with this app: Mandiri e-money isi ulang (by Mandiri). It's once you entered the amount and payment method, you tap your card to your NFC enabled phone and voila.

For iOS, I don't know.

 

[ukcouple]

So.. reading the comments above it doesn't seem like NFC is a must have on an Indonesian smartphone.

In fact I would feel like an idiot using a phone to pay for something in Alfamart or Kentucky fried chicken.

The fact is I need to buy a new phone. There are two I really like.. one has NFC and the other one doesn't. The candidates are the Moto G5s Plus and the Xiaomi Mi A1.

I think I'll go with the Xiaomi Mi A1. It hasn't got NFC but has more storage 64 vs 35 GB.

 

[R Cameron]

The fact is I need to buy a new phone. There are two I really like.. one has NFC and the other one doesn't. The candidates are the Moto G5s Plus and the Xiaomi Mi A1.

I've used it in other countries and I really like the convenience, but I think it's definitely a few years away from being commonplace in Indonesia. Maybe you'll want it in your next phone in 2-3 years, but I wouldn't think twice about it in 2017-2018.

 

[vocalneal]

If NFC phones were more powerful, so that proximity was less restrictive,

The key is in the description ? NEAR-field communication. It has to be proximity based otherwise if you are second in the queue at Indomaret you would be paying for the cigarettes of the guy at the front.

 

[Davita]

The key is in the description ? NEAR-field communication. It has to be proximity based otherwise if you are second in the queue at Indomaret you would be paying for the cigarettes of the guy at the front.

Really...then that doesn't make sense. My knowledge of IT is limited but surely there must be a code or something that identifies the NFC to the purchase and not only by its proximity.

 

[R Cameron]

Really...then that doesn't make sense. My knowledge of IT is limited but surely there must be a code or something that identifies the NFC to the purchase and not only by its proximity.

The wikipedia entry mentions both 4cm and 10cm, but the point is definitely to emphasize "near", almost touching. I have used the ApplePay implementation of NFC and when the cashier has totaled the transaction, any phone setup with ApplePay can be placed very near the reader to make the payment. When the phone is close, a verification screen appears on the phone, and a fingerprint or pin is requested to verify it's an authorized user of the phone.

Here it is in about 5 seconds:
Another good thing about ApplePay (not sure about Android versions) is that your credit card information is never transferred to the store. So when you hear of a large chain store having a data breach and millions of customers card details being stolen by hackers, yours is still safe if you only used ApplePay at that retailer.

 

[pinky321]

I'm using both android and iPhone, on my android it has NFC feature, BCA Mobile apps with my BCA account and i can check balance and top up my flazz card by just tapping the flazz card behind the phone within a second. With my android, i also can tap it on the hotel elevator and it works.
But i can't do any of them on my iPhone unless i stick it Tcash sticker on my iPhone to tap the elevator.

Yep, for Android, you need e-money info (by Mandiri).

And if you have a Mandiri account, you can top-up your emoney card with this app: Mandiri e-money isi ulang (by Mandiri). It's once you entered the amount and payment method, you tap your card to your NFC enabled phone and voila.

For iOS, I don't know.