PayPal has launched a mobile payments pilot in Londons Richmond high street.
A dozen businesses have signed up to the pilot, which will enable users to check in at each shop with the PayPal app in order to pay for goods. Their name and photo is then sent to the cashiers device so they can identify the shopper and verify the payment.
“PayPal first brought ‘pay by mobile’ to the UK high street two years ago,” said Rob Harper, head of retail services at PayPal. “Through our Richmond initiative, we’re pleased to help local businesses of all sizes offer a new more personal experience, while never having to turn away customers who don’t have enough cash on them to pay. Now locals in Richmond can leave their wallet or purse at home and be the first in the country to use their profile picture to pay.
“This is another step on the journey towards a wallet-less high street, where customers will be able to leave their wallet or purse at home and pay using their phone or tablet. We predict that by 2016 this will become a reality.”
You can see a video of how it all works below.