People who want to simplify and ease their lives have discovered that smartwatches, which have all the characteristics of a smart device, are a tremendous advantage. Smartwatches provide consumers easy access to music, and voice and text instructions, and may even purchase a cup of coffee. And all done with just a few taps on your wrist. Since the first smartwatch was introduced to the market in the early 2010s, these smart devices have come a long way. Contactless payment, in particular, is one feature that has gained tremendous popularity in recent years. It’s safe to say that it has become one of the smart ways to pay online.
The great majority of major smartwatch manufacturers will offer their clients contactless payment alternatives. This will depend on the make and type of the watch you own. Mostly, you can begin using this handy feature with just a basic setup. At this point, you can already leave your wallet at home.
Why Make Payments Using Smart Watches?
The fact that your actual card information is not used when you pay using your phone or watch makes it a more secure mode of payment. This stops retailers from accessing personal bank information, so you can rest assured that your details aren’t being misused. And since there’s no need to carry your wallet anymore, you won’t have to worry about losing it anywhere. This makes smart watch payments all the more convenient.
How Current Smartwatches’ Contactless Payment Work
With smartwatches, contactless payment is now a breeze. But, how does it work? Contactless transactions are done through an NFC function, which, among the many other ways, simplifies and improves the quality of our life.
Paying with the help of an NFC is easy. To begin performing contactless payments, we will need a gadget that is equipped with NFC capability. In addition, there needs to be a point-of-sale terminal that is appropriate for contactless payment, or another terminal that meets comparable requirements at the location where we will be making our payment.
It’s quite simple to locate appropriate payment stations as a result of the development and broad use of the contactless payment technique, which has grown common in recent years.
How to Use Apple Watch for Payments
You can utilize an Apple Watch to pay for purchases made in-store:
- Tap to activate the button located on the side.
- Swipe left or right to choose a card.
- Place the screen of your Apple Watch so that it is facing the contactless card reader and hold it a few inches away from the reader.
- When your card information is received, you will feel a light tap and hear a beep. This will occur on the Apple Pay screen, which will display “Keep Close to the Reader” at the top.
- When you hear a little click followed by a beep, this indicates that the information about your payment has been transmitted. When the transaction is completed, a notice will be sent to the Notification Center.
You’ll also get a notice for purchases made with cards, even if the transaction wasn’t done using your Apple Watch, iPad, or any other iOS device. You will get the notification even if the purchase was made with a card that doesn’t support the feature.
Within Wallet, you may disable alerts and history for each of your cards. To do so, Launch the Apple Watch > My Watch > Wallet-then-Apple Pay > Actions > Show History & Allow Notifications.
In-app purchase
If you are considering Apple Watch to make in-app purchases, the checkout screen will give you the option to use Apple Pay.
Click the buttons on the side twice, then tap the side button again to confirm your payment after reviewing the payment, delivery, and billing details.
How Can You Pay With an Android Watch?
The most current version of Google’s wearable operating system, Android Wear 2.0, includes support for Android Pay, Google’s mobile payment platform. However, do take note that only a handful of Android watches in the market currently support the NFC function to make contactless transactions. Ticwatch Pro and Samsung are some examples.
- You may use Android Pay by downloading and installing the app on phones and Android Wear watches.
- If you have already connected any card to Android Pay on a phone, you may skip the phone setup and go straight to adding a credit card to the watch.
- If you have not yet set up Android Pay, launch the Android Pay app and then proceed to the + button situated at the bottom of the screen. Then, enter your address and scan the card you want to use. Agree to the terms set out by your bank, and then follow the on-screen instructions to validate your card.
- Launch the Android Pay application on your Android watch to add a payment card. Swipe up the display, then tap the Add card button. Your watch will open the Android Pay application on the smartphone, and from there you will need to repeat the procedures you completed when you initially inserted a card, except scanning the card.
- Once your credit card has been verified, you may begin utilizing the Android Watch to make payments.
Using your smartwatch to make a purchase is straightforward. You may start Android Pay straight from the watch face by pushing the bottom button on the Android Watch. In case you have several cards, choose the one you want to use and then scan the screen to the payment machine. Your payment will be processed after a brief information exchange between your watch and the POS system.
What Steps Must I Take to Use Samsung Pay?
If you have a recent Samsung phone, you should set up and use Samsung Pay if you find it more convenient than Google Pay. The procedures closely resemble those provided by Google. The Samsung Pay app will be reached from either Google Play Store or the Samsung Galaxy Store for it to operate correctly.
Can I Use the Fitbit Pay Function?
Yes, you can. Fitbit Pay requires just your wearable device and Fitbit app for Android or iOS. Fitbit’s devices are compatible with the iOS and Android mobile operating systems. This payment option is compatible with the Fitbit Versa, the Versa Spec. Edition, the Versa 2, the Versa 3, the Sense, the Ionic, the Charge 3 Spec. Edition, and the Charge 4 fitness trackers.
Fitbit Pay does not work directly from a mobile device, thus a tracker or smartwatch is required for use.
How Do I Use the Fitbit Pay Function?
To set up your payment methods, you must open the Fitbit app on your smartphone, tap your avatar (found in the top right corner), and then pick the device you desire to set up. By choosing Wallet, you may personalize your different payment methods and set a PIN to protect them.
NFC is utilized to make payments, and Fitbit Pay may be used anywhere that allows contactless payments when paired with a compatible wearable. This is comparable to the other payment methods described above (can be used where contactless cards work).
Summing Up
If you are opting to set up your smartwatch with a contactless payment application, it is sufficient to open the appropriate app on the desired smartphone, add and authenticate your credit or debit card, and then configure your timepiece. When using a debit card, you must enter a PIN number.
Launch the program, sign in to your Google Pay, Apple Pay, or Samsung Pay account, and then follow the on-screen instructions to enter your credit card information.
After this is complete, you will be able to make any purchases in physical stores in just a few easy steps. Launch the app, authenticate your identity, and then hold the device close to a contactless pay-point. Once you hear a ping, it indicates your transaction is successful.
