Discover Begins Rollout of Contactless Devices to Consumers

RIVERWOODS, Ill. -- Discover announced that it has begun issuing Discover Zip contactless credit cards and stickers, targeted at early adopters of its mobile technology. Select Discover cardmembers began receiving contactless cards and stickers in the mail on November 15, according to the company. Additional plastics and stickers will be issued to more cardmembers beginning in January 2011.

Discover Zip enables fast and convenient transactions with enhanced security features via contactless technology. Consumers simply touch a payment device, which is in the form of either a plastic card or a sticker that can be applied to a mobile phone or any personal item of their choosing, to a Zip-enabled contactless reader to make a payment. Currently, over 100,000 U.S. merchant locations offer contactless readers that accept Zip transactions at the point-of-sale, including quick service restaurants, gas station and convenient stores, retailers and pharmacies, and public transit agencies.

Discover is not new to the contactless space. The company’s payments business, Discover Network, has worked with merchants to certify contactless readers for many years, and was the first to test credit-based contactless stickers. Issuers, merchants, and acquirers can benefit from Discover Zip with increased transaction volume and customer loyalty.