Microsoft Wallet Comes To Some Windows 10 Lumia Smartphones

Windows 10 mobile users will be able to make contactless payments using their devices with the introduction of Microsoft Wallet to the preview version of the operating system.

The cloud-based technology will initially be available to Windows Insiders running build 14360 or later on a Lumia 950, 950 XL or 650 handset.

Like rival wallets Android Pay and Apple Pay, Microsoft Wallet stores credit, debt and loyally cards and promises a secure connection that can help minimise fraud as no card number is shared with retailers.

Microsoft Wallet

“In our increasingly mobile and busy world, our on-the-go customers want to pay for their everyday purchases without the hassle of digging through their physical wallet,” said Will White, a member of Microsoft’s payments team.

“In our digital stores today, whether it’s Xbox, Office or the Windows Store, our customers enjoy the ease of signing in with a Microsoft account and having their secured payment information on hand to quickly and more safely purchase products.

“Our customers have asked us to extend similar experiences to their phones and we are excited they can now enjoy easy, more secure transactions with Microsoft Wallet and tap to pay on their Windows 10 Mobile phone.  To help making shopping a breeze, Microsoft Wallet also provides one convenient place to store reward and membership numbers so all customers have to do is reference or scan them right from their phone.”

Microsoft is urging retailers to let people know they accept Microsoft Wallet, but Windows market share lags significantly behind iOS and Android. Figures from IDC published in March claimed Windows has a 1.6 percent share of the global smartphone market and could drop to 0.9 percent by 2020, meaning the company’s hopes rely on Windows 10 for a revival.

Lacklustre sales had led many to question the future of Microsoft’s mobile platform, but Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Windows and devices group, has told staff it remains committed to supporting Windows 10 Mobile for ‘many years’, and that it is currently working on a number of new products featuring the software.

TechWeekEurope has asked whether the platform will be coming to the UK.

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