Optus has launched Australia's first NFC mobile payment service for its postpaid customers.
The Cash by Optus service uses Visa's payWave technology to accommodate purchases of up to $100, and customers will be able to deposit up to $500 at any one time.
The service is accessible via a free Android mobile app. NFC-enabled SIMs will be sent on request. PayWave uses the international EMV chip standard and accommodates cryptographic security.
No account with a specific bank will be required, and payment will work on most phones even if the battery is flat. The service will also support online payments via a virtual credit card.
The mobile app will allow customers to check their balance and transaction histories and report faults or request customer support.
“As technology and communications converge, Cash by Optus is a natural evolution for Optus. This is our first step towards launching future contactless applications in areas like public transport,” Optus vice president for mobile marketing said.
“Australians never leave home without their mobiles, so it makes sense to build this technology into smartphones now.”
Optus' smartphone portfolio currently includes 20 NFC-enabled Android smartphones.
Optus parent SingTel teamed up with Visa in August last year to incorporate Visa accounts into its own mCash mobile payment service.