After popular international systems left the country, Russians had to change their daily habits. One-touch payment with a smartphone became unavailable for most cards. In Russia, a solution was found quite quickly - special bank stickers. In this article, we explain in simple terms how a payment sticker works, why it is needed and what its advantages are.
What are payment stickers and what do they look like?
In simple terms, a sticker is a miniature version of a bank card linked to your account. It can be the only means of payment or issued in addition to a regular card. The card consists of plastic and an NFC chip. NFC technology allows data to be transmitted over a short distance (approximately 10 cm). It is used for contactless payment.
The sticker looks like a rectangle with rounded ends. It is no larger than a quarter of the back panel of a standard smartphone. The front side usually contains the logos of the bank and payment system. The back side of the card has an adhesive surface.
Why do we need stickers?
The main purpose of the sticker is to return the usual comfort and gansu mobile number database speed of contactless payment. This means that it is beneficial to all participants - users, banks and sellers:
Users are used to paying with their smartphones in stores. They don’t want to carry a wallet or hide a card under a mobile phone case. A sticker solves this problem. Mini-cards are especially relevant for iPhone owners, because it is impossible to install Mir Pay on iOS.
For banks, stickers are a competitive advantage. Credit institutions strive to meet customer demands. They offer miniature cards that are easy to use.
Mini-cards are also beneficial for merchants, especially large chains with high traffic. When a customer pays with one touch, the queue moves faster.