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Barclaycard is introducing new features to its Android app that will enable more contactless payment use, and allow customers to continue using their account if a card is lost or stolen.
From November, the credit card provider’s official customer app on the Android platform will have a contactless payment feature that will make it compatible with any Android smartphone that houses the technology required for the transactions – known as near-field communication (NFC) technology.
Currently, around 40% of UK smartphones have NFC built-in, having been first introduced to Android phones in 2011. It is also used to power Apple Pay on the iPhone 6.
The updated app will enable customers to complete transactions of up to £30 by touching their device to a pay point, or payments of up to £100 by entering a PIN.
Mike Saunders, managing director of digital consumer payments at Barclaycard, said: ”Barclaycard has a strong history of innovation and we’re constantly looking for new ways to revolutionise payments.
“These new features transform Android phones into a mobile hub for our customers, allowing them to manage their account on the go, make contactless payments up to £100 and have a lost or stolen card instantly re-issued – letting them continue to make contactless payments straight away.”
Customers will be able to contact the Barclaycard call centre from within the app, and have a virtual replacement card send to their device. Barclaycard says this can be used in the event of a card being stolen, lost or damaged.
“This additional functionality is being added to our existing customer app so there’s no need for existing users to download, register, upload, or add card details into a new app; you just complete the simple opt-in process and away you go,” said Mr Saunders.
The move follows in the wake of Apple Pay for iPhone 6 users launching in the UK in June, and both Samsung Pay and Android Pay due to arrive in the UK in the coming months, as technology firms embrace the market.
UK Cards Association statistics from June show the number of contactless transactions has risen by more than 240% in the last year.
