Mobile Wallet

A mobile wallet is a term referring to mobile devices and online programs used for making payments for purchases digitally, without presenting a physical credit card, debit card or cash. The term mobile wallet may refer to either a mobile device that stores payment information (such as a smartphone) or web-based program that stores an online customer profile and payment information (such as Visa Checkout and MasterCard Masterpass). Both store credit and debit cards virtually, hence the name mobile wallet.

There are two main types of mobile wallets: device-based and web-based. Device-based mobile wallets use near field communication (NFC) technology that enables users to pay for purchases without swiping their credit or debit card. Instead, consumers simply wave their phone or other NFC-capable device, such as a smartwatch, near a reader at a merchant to transmit payment account information.

Compatible Samsung Pay phones will also work with traditional magnetic stripe terminals. With terminals that aren’t capable of accepting contactless payments, Samsung Pay emits a magnetic signal that allows a phone to be used like a traditional magnetic stripe card by sliding it above the magnetic stripe reader.

Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay are examples of device-based mobile wallets because they require a smartphone or smartwatch to make a payment.

Web-based mobile wallets allow customers to add credit or debit card information to a personal account or profile. When customers make a purchase online, they log into this account and use it to pay for their purchase. This type of mobile wallet allows users to pay for purchases without providing their card details, billing/shipping address or creating an account on the website on which they’re shopping. Visa Checkout and MasterCard Masterpass are examples of internet-based mobile wallets, because they don’t require a mobile device to use. Instead, they use an online profile and saved card information to pay for purchases.

Mobile wallets encrypt your account information, which means the account number that is transmitted to the merchant when making a purchase/payment is not your actual account number. Mobile wallets generate these encrypted account numbers for a single use so each transaction will have a unique account number, helping safeguard your account information. They also rely on two-factor authentication as another possible security feature.

Mobile wallets come with built-in enhanced security. Because your card information is encrypted, the account details are kept secure thus making it harder for a security breach to happen.