Czech Republic capital Prague is the latest city to host a mobile contactless payments pilot, with Komerční banka and Citi customers offered the chance to use their handsets for purchases.
The banks have teamed with Telefónica on the trial, enabling 400 shared customers to pay for their shopping at Globus hypermarket stores in Prague by waving Samsung Star 5230 NFC handsets with pre-installed O2 Wallet mobile applications against terminal readers.
The pilot - which also includes vendors Ingenico, Giesecke & Devrient, Oberthur Technologies and Global Payments Europe - will run for six months as the partners collect feedback ahead of a potential commercial roll out.
Marcel Gajdoš, contactless and mobile project manager, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Visa Europe, says: "Mobile payments offer users a high standard of comfort, speed and security, while bringing a new system of customer service for merchants. We are delighted that we have had an opportunity to support our innovative partners in this unique pilot project in the Czech Republic."