Visa will enable payments on Fitbit’s first smartwatch in the US.
The technology, which is likely to hit the UK soon, allows cardholders from participating banks to make purchases on Fitbit Ionic through its new payment function Fitbit Pay.
To make on-the-go payments, users add their Visa credit or debit card details to the Fitbit companion app. They can then make a payment by holding their smartwatch up to a contactless terminal.
Payments are kept secure through replacing a consumer’s card details with a unique and randomly generated virtual account number.
“Partnering with Fitbit on its new Fitbit Pay service is another step forward in the growth of the internet of things and shows how Visa is enabling companies across the technology industry to help us all move towards a cashless future,” said Jim McCarthy, Visa executive vice president of innovation and strategic partnerships.
Fitbit’s vice president of product management Jon Oakes added: “We are proud to partner with Visa and offer the ability to pay on the go with Fitbit Pay on Fitbit Ionic, offering more convenience for our users to help them reach their health and fitness goals.”
This comes after a joint survey by Visa and payment trends expert PYMNTS in April and May this year found consumers were looking to make more secure and simple cashless payments through wearable technology.
The survey of 2,600 Visa users found that more than 90% prefer card or digital payments over cash. Over 70% of respondents who owned wearable devices wanted to make everyday purchases on them, while the same percentage had concerns over data privacy and theft.
A Visa spokesman declined to comment on when the UK rollout would take place.
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