Japanese card issuer JCB is conducting trails of contactless cards with an embedded fingerprint sensor to replace PIN button pushing for higher-value purchases at the check out.
The pilot trial - conducted in conjunction with ID outfit Idemia and card personalistation partner Toppan Printing - will see the card scheme issuing new JCB Biometric Cards to employees later this month.
Once card users have recorded their fingerprints using a smartphone or tablet app, they can make secure purchases at merchants accepting JCB Contactless payments by touching the embedded the fingerprint sensor on the card's lower right corner.
Mastercard last year announced plans to roll out biometric cards combining chip technology with fingerprints after getting the thumbs up from early-stage trials of the Zwipe-powered system in South Africa.