Snapper on WindowsPhone

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roobarb

646 posts

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#154810 8-Nov-2014 12:53

Wanted: Tyre kickers and risk takers

Disclaimer: This is not an official Snapper product, it is an independent proof of concept with no warranty.

Quick history lesson: Snapper and 2degrees launched Touch2Pay over two years ago on NFC enabled Gingerbread handsets. Since then we have had also seen Google Wallet and most recently Apple Pay.

Executive summary: WindowsPhones with NFC and 8.1 can use the 2degrees Touch2Pay SIM, the Nokia Lumia 735 and 830 can also communicate with contactless cards.

Now the story

WindowsPhone 8.1 has changed many things, including

mechanics of applications talking to the UICC
new NFC driver for NXP PN547

If you put a 2degrees Touch2Pay SIM in a Windows 8.1 NFC phone you can enable the "Tap to pay" option. This is under Settings/System/NFC/Tap to pay. You can set it to work while the phone is unlocked, while the screen is on or at any time. If the Snapper applet has been initialised and funds loaded it should work. It is strongly recommended that you first confirm the SIM works as a Touch2Pay SIM using a supported Android handset and the SnapperMobile application.

MyFeeder for WindowsPhone 8.0 was a cumbersome affair where it communicated with an external card reader using Bluetooth, because that is all you could do.

MyFeeder for WindowsPhone 8.1 has been rewritten to use a Touch2Pay SIM if present, and on newer phones such as 735 or 830 it can read standard Snapper cards.

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-nz/store/app/myfeeder/60e43050-f899-45f3-9c28-b754e0ace8a9

Hopefully Anthony can now try the new application with a Touch2Pay SIM, or read a Snapper on a 735 or 830!

Application has been tested on Nokia Lumias 820, 930 and 735.

Alas the flagship Nokia Lumia 930 cannot read contactless cards. It has the capable hardware, it doesn't have an appropriate driver. Microsoft needs a business case to implement the feature for the 930 and others.

Shameless plug: MyFeeder is also available for Windows 8.1 and will even run on an ARM Surface RT with care. Requires NXP PN531 ( eg Snapper Feeder ) and correct drivers installed.

http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-nz/app/de6522e4-44d7-427d-853d-cd072ec1b95d
https://sourceforge.net/p/myfeeder/wiki/win8usb/

Incindre

117 posts

Master Geek

#1188780 4-Dec-2014 16:29

This is interesting... I hate fumbling around with my wallet to get my snapper card out when my 820 is almost always in my hands anyway. Will probably look at testing this when I go back to Wellington.

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roobarb

646 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1189028 4-Dec-2014 23:07

Great, give it a go!

In comparison to Android devices which tend to have the NFC antenna in the middle of the back, the Nokia 820 has the antenna at the top of the back, so to tag-on you touch the reader with the top edge of the phone while holding the handset firmly, rather than trying to touch the reader with the middle of the back of the phone and holding the handset with your finger-tips.

wafernz

13 posts

Geek

#1189812 6-Dec-2014 10:47

This sounds great!! I'll give it a go with my Ativ S and see what the results are.

wafernz

13 posts

Geek

#1191710 8-Dec-2014 17:16

Grabbed a 2degrees touch 2 pay sim, topped up $10 using the app and tried it at the dairy - worked amazingly on my ativ s. Unsure of the feasibility of adding a live tile with snapper balance but this would be perfect. Excellent work again

nathan

5695 posts

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#1191712 8-Dec-2014 17:21

Do all 2D SIMs support this our do I have to get a special one?

wafernz

13 posts

Geek

#1191717 8-Dec-2014 17:41

You need a "touch 2 pay" sim. Go to lambton quay 2degrees and ask for one and they will give you one for free. Then call 2degrees and they will move your number instantly

wafernz

13 posts

Geek

#1191735 8-Dec-2014 17:56

Oh and I forgot to mention that I used a Samsung galaxy s3 and the snapper app to activate the sim card

roobarb

646 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1191747 8-Dec-2014 18:37

Thanks wafernz, excellent news.

Yes, to use the "Microsoft Tap To Pay" you need a "2degrees Touch2Pay" SIM. This is an NFC SIM implementing "Single-Wire Protocol" and issued with the Snapper Applet.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#1191749 8-Dec-2014 18:53

Have a Lumia 930 I could use to test but I am on Vodafone :(

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BrentR

1315 posts

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#1192076 9-Dec-2014 12:10

freitasm: Have a Lumia 930 I could use to test but I am on Vodafone :(

It has the wrong hardware for it.

735/830 onwards have the correct hardware to run it. 930 was the last of the last generation.

roobarb

646 posts

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#1192078 9-Dec-2014 12:14

The 735/830 are required to read a physical plastic Snapper card.

All NFC devices from 620 onwards should work with the Touch2Pay SIM.

freitasm

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#1192186 9-Dec-2014 13:40

BrentR:
freitasm: Have a Lumia 930 I could use to test but I am on Vodafone :(

It has the wrong hardware for it.

735/830 onwards have the correct hardware to run it. 930 was the last of the last generation.

I thought the lack of drivers was a problem when reading a card, not using it for payment?

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roobarb

646 posts

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#1192359 9-Dec-2014 19:28

freitasm: I thought the lack of drivers was a problem when reading a card, not using it for payment?

You are correct, sir. I'm very pleased with the report that it also works with non Nokia NFC phones such as the Ativ S.

roobarb

646 posts

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#1197458 14-Dec-2014 22:06

By popular demand I have added a "live" Tile.

It is updated when the application runs and the balance is read from the SIM.

The tile is not updated when an external card is read.

Caveat, due to the way Windows Phone applications work, merely showing the app on the screen when being activated from dormant does not cause the SIM to be read again. Pressing the refresh menubar icon is the sure way to do this.