Hands on with the ASB PayTag

Forums › Off topic › Hands on with the ASB PayTag

possum888

24 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#153874 10-Oct-2014 19:26

So after pre-registering for the ASB PayTag trial I finally received it in the mail. Thought some of you might be interested in some pics.

If you don't already know, it's a Visa PayWave card in the form of a "sticker" that you put on the back of your phone. You can then tap your phone on a contactless reader to do the payment. ASB boasts that you can turn the sticker on/off either online or through the mobile app.

When I heard sticker, I assumed it was similar to those RFID stickers you find in DVD cases. The "sticker" is about the same thickness as a normal credit card, and pops out of a credit card surround with instructions on how to activate it. The thickness of it is slightly offputting, it might be better if you use a case with your phone but for me it's just thick enough to be annoying (catching on the edge of my pocket, etc.)

One side has ASB/Visa branding with 4 digits from your credit card (in my case it's a Visa Debit), and the back has a silver backing (guessing some shielding). If you hold it at a certain angle you can just make out the RFID antenna inside.

To activate the sticker, you have to log into your internet banking and choose a 4-digit PIN, in case you make a purchase totalling over $80. I can't actually activate it yet as it's still showing "on its way", but I'll post an update after I've used it if anyone is interested.

1 | 2

28172 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1151498 10-Oct-2014 19:30

Bit pointless IMO, still have to have the card with you for the majority of places that dont have paywave, and it uglys up your phone.

Only use I can see is as a second card to take out with you so you are minimizing exposure of your real card number, but I have a debit card on an account with no money in it for that.

Richard rich.ms

Stu

Hammered
8336 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1151504 10-Oct-2014 19:57

Won't this create issues when trying to use integrated NFC?

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished Semble product. Looks like it will add another level of security to tap n go payments as you'll need to activate the required card in the app with a PIN before using it (looks like it will hold details of multiple cards). Obviously still need the actual card with you though for merchants without Paywave etc though!

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies - Backblaze -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

dcole13

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1151528 10-Oct-2014 20:37

Wow. Ve stupid. Much dissapoint. Pls just make an app that uses the nfc chip INSIDE the phone? kthx

Home ADSL: School:

Stu

Hammered
8336 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1151532 10-Oct-2014 20:43

Have a look at the Semble project.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies - Backblaze -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

dcole13

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1151536 10-Oct-2014 20:50

"In that case, their phone would not need to be turned on to make contactless payments and it would not matter whether the phone had run out of battery power."

How does that work without having a sticker?

Home ADSL: School:

JamesL

956 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1151539 10-Oct-2014 20:50

Are banks out of touch with reality?

Why aren't they integrating with NFC capabilities of phones rather than developing pointless things like that "sticker"

Stu

Hammered
8336 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1151540 10-Oct-2014 20:56

This ASB product has been in the wind for quite some time. Thought they might abandon it but apparently not. Pretty sure ASB is part of the Semble project so not sure why they're continuing down this path.

Again, look at Semble. Kiwi project that DOES use on-board NFC.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies - Backblaze -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Wise

Send money globally for less with Wise - one free transfer up to NZ$900 (affiliate link).

dcole13

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1151544 10-Oct-2014 21:03

BigHammer: This ASB product has been in the wind for quite some time. Thought they might abandon it but apparently not. Pretty sure ASB is part of the Semble project so not sure why they're continuing down this path.

Again, look at Semble. Kiwi project that DOES use on-board NFC.

"Semble Ready SIM"

Is this gonna be one of those 2degrees Touch2Pay sim crap?

Home ADSL: School:

Stu

Hammered
8336 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1151555 10-Oct-2014 21:17

Need the SIM in conjunction with a device with built in NFC according to what I've read. They're working with Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees so shouldn't (hopefully) be tied down like the previous 2Degrees venture.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies - Backblaze -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

dcole13

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1151556 10-Oct-2014 21:19

BigHammer: Need the SIM in conjunction with a device with built in NFC according to what I've read. They're working with Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees so shouldn't (hopefully) be tied down like the previous 2Degrees venture.

I would still rather if they worked to bring Google Wallet to NZ, but I guess this will do

Home ADSL: School:

richms

28172 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1151565 10-Oct-2014 21:28

Great so when I swap Sims with the tablet because it still has data left and I'm out on the phone I will have to re setup the payments. Have had enough of that crap with net code which doesn't let you have more than one number on it.

Richard rich.ms

sonyxperiageek

2958 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1151579 10-Oct-2014 21:45

Semble has also entered into a marketing partnership with Samsung that will support Semble’s initial launch and rollout.

I hope that doesn't mean that Semble will only be available on selected Samsung devices for the first few weeks/months!

Sony

charsleysa

597 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1151581 10-Oct-2014 21:46

Let's clear up some things about Semble.

It uses NFC but also requires a Secure Element which is typically a highly secure on-board chip or a partition on the SIM card.

A large portion of phones with NFC do not have an on-board Secure Element.

This is the reason ASB is trialling the PayTag.

In my opinion a better solution would be to make EFTPOS NFC capable so that merchants don't get that sting of extra costs involved with accepting credit card transactions which is how Visa Paywave and MasterCard paypass work.

This way they are more likely to upgrade their terminals and people are more likely to use NFC payments.

Regards
Stefan Andres Charsley

Kyanar

4089 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1151644 11-Oct-2014 00:12

BigHammer: This ASB product has been in the wind for quite some time. Thought they might abandon it but apparently not. Pretty sure ASB is part of the Semble project so not sure why they're continuing down this path.

Again, look at Semble. Kiwi project that DOES use on-board NFC.

Why would ASB abandon the PayTag? It's just a rebranded CommBank tag which is already generally available in Australia. It's not like they're having to do anything except some changes to their platform to support activating and issuing them.

sonyxperiageek:
Semble has also entered into a marketing partnership with Samsung that will support Semble’s initial launch and rollout.

I hope that doesn't mean that Semble will only be available on selected Samsung devices for the first few weeks/months!

Based on what I've seen of everything Samsung has gotten involved with, you can pretty much write off ever seeing it on a non-Samsung device when you see "marketing partnership" with them. Just like on-demand catch up Android applications, and every bank NFC app ever.

charsleysa: Let's clear up some things about Semble.

It uses NFC but also requires a Secure Element which is typically a highly secure on-board chip or a partition on the SIM card.

A large portion of phones with NFC do not have an on-board Secure Element.

Irrelevant. KitKat has Host Card Emulation, which allows the operating system to host the secure element.

sonyxperiageek

2958 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1151645 11-Oct-2014 00:16

Kyanar:
BigHammer: This ASB product has been in the wind for quite some time. Thought they might abandon it but apparently not. Pretty sure ASB is part of the Semble project so not sure why they're continuing down this path.

Again, look at Semble. Kiwi project that DOES use on-board NFC.

Why would ASB abandon the PayTag? It's just a rebranded CommBank tag which is already generally available in Australia. It's not like they're having to do anything except some changes to their platform to support activating and issuing them.

sonyxperiageek:
Semble has also entered into a marketing partnership with Samsung that will support Semble’s initial launch and rollout.

I hope that doesn't mean that Semble will only be available on selected Samsung devices for the first few weeks/months!

Based on what I've seen of everything Samsung has gotten involved with, you can pretty much write off ever seeing it on a non-Samsung device when you see "marketing partnership" with them. Just like on-demand catch up Android applications, and every bank NFC app ever.

charsleysa: Let's clear up some things about Semble.

It uses NFC but also requires a Secure Element which is typically a highly secure on-board chip or a partition on the SIM card.

A large portion of phones with NFC do not have an on-board Secure Element.

Irrelevant. KitKat has Host Card Emulation, which allows the operating system to host the secure element.

That is exactly what I thought. But then it would pretty much be a fail, or you might as well not have Semble, if it's only for Samsung-capable devices. Plus it says "initial launch and rollout" so we'll keep our fingers crossed that it's only just that!

Sony

1 | 2