MasterCard Launches Program To Make Anything – Clothes, Rings – A Payment Devicebo

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  MasterCard’s quest to make paying for things easier already includes a few out-there systems: verification via selfie for online orders, anyone? And it doesn’t appear that the credit card company is holding back in its latest endeavor, partnering with a fashion designer and other companies to create an array of consumer products-turned-mobile payment systems. Because, you know, paying with pieces of plastic and phones was so last year. 

  MasterCard announced the launch of a new program that will bring the company’s payments to a variety of new products: cars, clothes, wearables – and other things they haven’t even thought of yet.

  The company says the program brings to fruition the vision that every device will one day be a commerce device.

  “As more and more ‘things’ become connected, consumers will have endless possibilities when it comes to how they pay, and will need all of their devices to work seamlessly together,” Ed McLaughlin, Chief Emerging Payments Officer at MasterCard, said in a statement.

  So far, the program includes partnerships with fashion designer Adam Selman, General Motors, wearable technology company Nymi, smart jewelry designer Ringly, and Bluetooth locator TrackR.

  “This program eliminates the boundaries of how we pay by delivering a secure digital payment experience to virtually anything – rings, fitness and smart bands, car key fobs, apparel, and whatever comes along next,” McLaughlin said.

  Prototypes from the program, including a payment ring, key fob, wristband, dresses, gloves and handbags, were unveiled and on display at the Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas.

  There’s no word yet on whether or not the payment-dress is dry clean only.

  
  
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by Ashlee Kieler

via Consumerist