Why This Time Is Different

摘要

Among the hottest topics at last month's Cartes show in Paris was contactless payments, the technology that lets consumers pay by tapping a reader with a payment card, keyfob, mobile phone, or anything else that can carry a chip. And, as our cover story reveals, many banks, merchants, transit agencies and mobile network operators have invested heavily in this new technology. Major rollouts are underway in the United States and in Asia, with tests beginning in Europe and elsewhere.