Barclaycard today unveiled the new look and name of its credit card that will combine Oyster smartcard, credit and contactless functionalities.
The company also said the new three-in-one "OnePulse" card is on track to be launched across London this September as the only UK credit card that combines the Transport for London (TfL) Oyster contactless travel pass technology for commuters who live and work around London with its traditional payment function.
OnePulse cardholding commuters will be able to swipe Oyster readers to pay for travel as they already can with the standalone card, using it either on a pay-as-you-go or season ticket basis. And, in addition to using the card for regular chip and PIN purchases, the smartcard radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been extended to allow customers to make low value purchases of 10 or under more conveniently using UK contactless payment systems also being trailed in retail outlets this year.
Barclaycard Business also recently announced London take-out salad bar, Chop'd as the first retail partner to sign up for its in-store contactless payment system. The agreement will see the retailer adopt the new technology this autumn in all three of its central London outlets with the intention to roll out additional contactless terminals in further outlets due to open later this year.
Jasper Wight, Chop'd managing director said the new payment system would suit his fast-food business, where 95 per cent of its transactions are under 10. "With fraudulent notes and the responsibility of cash onsite, cash has become a high-risk part of business," he said. "We see contactless as a way of reducing this risk and some of the management time that is required to cash-up. We can't wait for it to be up and running in our stores this autumn."
Elizabeth Chambers, Barclaycard chief marketing officer said in a statement: "We believe Barclaycard OnePulse is the future of payments in London."
Barclaycard has also launched an initial pre-registration website that features information on the benefits of the three-in-one product, tips on how to use the new card and details on how consumers can register their interest so that Barclaycard can contact them as soon as they are able to apply for the new card when it is launched sometime in Autumn.
This OnePulse launch and contactless trials follow the announcement in December 2006 of the deal between Barclaycard and TranSys, the consortium which runs Oyster card in partnership with TfL, to combine Oyster and Barclaycard on one piece of plastic.
