It looks like a little bit of credit card technology is coming to New York. HSBC is introducing an RFID card so all someone with the card would do is wave or tap it at the point of purchase. The Daily News reports that McDonald's, Duane Reade and UA Theaters will have the RFID technology. The idea is that the card will speed up small purchases (anything less than $25 doesn't need a signature) The first thought that comes to Gothamist's mind is security, but MasterCard's site says there's no liability for fraudulent purchases. Then again, when was the last time anyone looked at the signature panel on your card?
As cool as this new technology is, what we're really wondering about is why the MTA can't come up with something like the CTA's Chicago Card. Our lives would be so much easier if we didn't have to deal with that whole Metrocard swipe. Imagine a life with turnstiles for those with the wireless Metrocard and tourists backed up at the normal Metrocard turnstile. We can dream, can't we?
The PayPass has been tested outside of New York already, has anybody used it?
