PURCHASE, N.Y. -- MasterCard Worldwide and USA Technologies said that 5,000 additional self service point-of-sale (POS) terminals, including vending machines, will be equipped with the e-Port cashless transaction solution to begin accepting MasterCard PayPass.
The deployment is the largest rollout to date of contactless technology in self-service POS and vending machines, the company said.
This rollout of an additional locations follows the recent deployment of USA Technologies' e-Port by MasterCard and USA Technologies in vending [image-nocss] machines in Philadelphia and the surrounding tri-state area.
The 5,000 e-Ports will be deployed throughout the U.S. in New York City, Dallas, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington D.C., Denver, Seattle, Miami and Orlando. The deployment will encompass several major brand names, in multiple environments including workplace environments, entertainment locations, travel locations, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and others.
USA Technologies' Generation Six (G6) e-Port radio frequency technology was developed specifically to accept contactless payments such as MasterCard PayPass.
The self-service point-of-sale industry, including vending, is largely untapped by cashless payment companies, and offers huge opportunity for growth and expansion, said T.J. Sharkey, group head of national accounts, U.S. commerce development, for MasterCard Worldwide. PayPass is helping to revolutionize these industries by providing speed and convenience to consumers, and new efficiencies and increased transaction revenues to operators.
To use the e-Port cashless payment technology, consumers tap their MasterCard PayPass-enabled payment card or device on the e-Port terminal. Within seconds, the terminal will flash a light and produce a tone signaling the transaction is complete. As with all MasterCard PayPass transactions under $25, no signature will be required. The terminals will also accept traditional magnetic-stripe payment cards.
With this latest cashless expansion, MasterCard and USA Technologies will have deployed 6,000 PayPass enabled e-Port devices in major metropolitan U.S. cities over the past six months.
MasterCard PayPass uses radio frequency technology to transmit payment details wirelessly between the PayPass device and the merchant's terminal. The transaction is then processed through the MasterCard network for clearing and settlement. PayPass cards include magnetic stripe technology, so the cards can also be used in the traditional manner anywhere MasterCard is accepted around the world. PayPass technology can also be used in a number of noncard devices, such as a convenient payment tag that fits on a key chain for easy access.
PayPass allows financial institutions to offer customers more payment options and it helps increase gross dollar value (GDV) for issuers by attracting payments away from cash, increasing accountholder loyalty for their card programs and opening up new acceptance opportunities for quick pay environments.
In the United States, Advanta, Chase, Citi, Citizens Financial Group, Inc., GE Consumer Finance, HSBC, KeyBank and MBNA have all begun offering MasterCard PayPass-enhanced payment programs to their accountholders. PayPass technology enhances any payment account it is added tocredit, debit, prepaid, cobrand, small business or private-label account.
MasterCard PayPass is ideal for traditional cash-heavy environments where speed is essential, the company said, and has brought contactless technology to consumer categories such as quick-serve restaurants(QSR), drug stores, gas stations, vending machines, convenience stores, sports arenas, movie theaters, transit systems and parking garages. There are currently nearly 11 million PayPass cards and devices in the market, and PayPass is currently accepted globally at 36,000 merchant locations, including participating 7-Eleven, CVS, McDonald's, Regal Entertainment Group theaters and many others. PayPass is also accepted at many football and baseball stadiums.
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