Visa Wave

Visa wave is a contact-less payment system that was first launched in Malaysia and Taiwan last 2007. From the word wave, Visa wave devices are used for purchases by just waving the devices near or on the card reader. Visa wave is designed for speedy processing of small-ticket items. Visa wave allows no signature on small-ticket purchases. However, like any other cards, Visa wave can also be used for larger ticket purchases that need signatures for verification and security.

Visa wave has many features that everyone will enjoy. Visa wave is fast, in so far using this contact less payment system is the fastest among any other payment methods.

As it only takes 4-6 seconds to process the transaction including the printing of the receipt. Compared to signature based cards that about 25 seconds average

processing time and to cash which takes up to 14 seconds processing time, contactless payment is really the fastest.

Visa wave is secure, there is no need to hand over the card to the cashier. There is no chance that the visa wave will leave your sight as you only need to wave the device to the card reader. The visa wave card can be detected within a four centimeter range from the card reader.

Visa wave is very convenient, no need for traditional card swiping. No need for signing the receipts for small-ticket items. Card holders can even choose which device he will use for purchases.

There are two visa wave devices that card holders may opt to use. One is the combi visa wave contact less card and the other the visa wave enabled cellphone. The visa contact less card is a combi card, which means that it can be used as a contact credit card and as contact less credit card. It also contains a Visa Smart Debit Credit (VSDC) chip that makes it function as a full Visa card. Another feature of the Visa wave card is that it is build on the EMV standard that acts as a power-tool against counterfeiting and fraud.

The other device that can be used as a tool in making visa contactless payment is the Visa contactless payment enabled phone. As of now the Nokia 3220 mobile phone is the only phone that is enabled with Visa contactless payment system. Like the Visa wave card, the Nokia 3220 phone also contains a Visa Smart Debit/Credit(VSDC) chip supporting a contacless interface.

Payments using these devices are done via Radio Frequency (RF). Through the RF, payments are transferred using a thin copper wire inside the chip. After passing through the RF, the payment goes to the reader connected to the merchant's point of sale terminal. Then that's it! Transaction done in seconds. The sale is charged to the account of the card holder.

It is very easy like the emerging tap and go devices being used in metro transit today. Continually Visa International issues more contactless cards to many parts of the globe.