MasterCard Proffers Contactless Payments Symbol to Industry

MasterCard International is offering its instructional symbol for contactless payments to the payments industry as an open universal identifier. The symbol provides an easily recognizable graphic that can be used at the point of sale with any contactless payment brands cards and devices, such as MasterCard(R) PayPass(R), to quickly and clearly demonstrate to consumers how they can make a contactless payment. MasterCard recently conducted qualitative research and a thorough cultural review to evaluate the effectiveness of a variety of elements, including: pictograms, icons and words to deliver the most intuitive symbol to show how to make contactless payments. Respondents consistently requested an instructional symbol that would help them quickly understand both how to properly hold the card or device and where to tap it on the payment terminal. Merchants also benefit by needing just one instructional symbol on their point of sale terminals to explain contactless payment technology to their customers. In addition, the use of proprietary brand marks for contactless payments will indicate which brands may be used contactlessly at the terminal. The selected symbol will help users of MasterCard PayPass and other contactless payment programs to instantly recognize and use the appropriate payment terminal. The symbol clearly depicts bringing the card or device into contact with the reader at the spot where the radio frequency signal is strongest. The read of the card or device begins at about four centimeters above the reader. By the time a consumer taps the reader, all communications have been completed and the terminal signals a successful read via sound and/or visual cues to the consumer.