Image credit – CNBC/Michelle Castillo
While Visa might be primarily be known as a credit card company, they are looking at expanding their services beyond just a plastic card. For example last year the company debuted an NFC-enabled ring for Olympic athletes that would allow them to pay for stuff without having to bring their wallets out with them.
Recently at SXSW, the company launched a prototype pair of sunglasses that are also NFC-enabled, which means that just like the ring and pretty much any NFC device, all users have to do is tap their sunglasses against the payment terminal to complete the transaction. If you’re wondering why this sounds familiar, it is because last month the company debuted something similar in Australia, so we guess the company plans on expanding its availability.
However it should be noted that these sunglasses are merely a prototype at the moment and it is unclear as to when they will be available for purchase, if at all. According to Chris Curtin, chief brand and innovation marketing officer at Visa, he explains that the creation of these sunglasses ties in with the company’s tagline. “It ties back to our tagline of everywhere you want to be.”
He adds, “Without it it’s hard for us to fulfill our tagline. Our view is we take form factors that you don’t expect to be payment-enabled like sunglasses or maybe like a ring and expose to the market that maybe it can be.”
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