Optus has announced that it will be releasing fitness bands and watches enabled with Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, allowing users to access its Cash by Optus service without a smartphone.
Announced yesterday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Optus will be teaming with Hong Kong-based ConnecteDevice, who will be designing and making the wearables, which are currently at the Proof of Concept stage.
The concept came after good feedback from Android users, said Ben White, Optus Vice President of Mobile Marketing, but “the biggest frustration came from our iPhone customers who wanted to try Cash by Optus, but didn’t have a compatible phone”. Cash by Optus is currently incompatible with Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.
Related: Slim Pickings for Aussie Smartwatch Fans
Optus announced its Cash by Optus service in November, which allows customers with NFC-enabled Android devices to pay using Visa payWave, linked to a pre-paid service and accessible using a Cash by Optus SIM card. Optus is aiming for the new wearables to be available by the end of the year.
Optus have not indicated what other features the watch will include, if any. Check out some photos of Optus’ new wearable offering below.
Optus NFC Payment Watch
-
Cash by Optus Watch
-
Cash by Optus Watch
-
Cash by Optus Watch
-
Cash by Optus Watch
-
Cash by Optus Watch
