Mobile Payments Can Make Holiday Shopping Easier

Pay with your phone this holiday season and leave your wallet at home

For holiday shoppers looking to simplify and enhance their shopping experience this season, mobile wallet apps on smartphones can make checking out faster and more convenient. These apps securely store payment information and utilize near-field communication, or NFC, to offer wireless payment through a merchant’s payment terminal. The apps also offer special deals, savings and convenience. Shoppers who use mobile wallets can store customer loyalty cards from favorite retailers and receive exclusive coupons when they are near a store.

“The holidays are such a busy time, but using your phone can help simplify the holiday shopping process by speeding up payment, organizing your transactions and keeping your shopping lists all in one place,” said Nathan Waddell, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Mid-South.  “Using a reliable national network, such as U.S. Cellular’s, ensures a hassle-free shopping experience whether you’re at home or traveling this holiday season.”

A recent survey by U.S. Cellular found that 47 percent of smartphone users manage or monitor their finances on their device. For shoppers looking to simplify their experience this holiday season, U.S. Cellular recommends the following mobile wallet options:

·       Apple Pay: Launched in October 2014, Apple recently said it expects to have Apple Pay acceptance at more than 1.5 million U.S. locations by the end of 2015. Users set up Apple Pay through the Passbook app on Apple devices such as the new iPhone 6s, and payment can be completed by placing the device near the store’s register. Apple Pay automatically connects the phone when near the NFC reader and requires a fingerprint scan to authorize the transaction. Apple Pay can also make payment online or within other apps as simple as a couple taps as it stores shipping and billing information.

·       Google Wallet: For Android phone owners, Google Wallet can link multiple cards or bank accounts to an account which is accessed by a four digit pin. Like Apple Pay, Google Wallet offers a tap-and-pay option to use in-store. Google Wallet can also be used in the Google Play store, within apps and online wherever a “Buy with Google” button is found. In addition, Google Wallet can store customer loyalty cards from favorite stores ensuring users never miss out on a deal.

·       Samsung Pay: Available on the latest Samsung devices such as the Galaxy S6 edge or Galaxy Note 5, Samsung pay uses NFC technology as well as magnetic transmission, making it compatible at almost all stores in the United States. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bank of America, Citi and U.S. Bank card holders are all able to link their cards and accounts to Samsung Pay.

¹ Results are from a nationally-representative online survey of 738 smartphone owners conducted by U.S. Cellular in partnership with Maritz Research from November 12-20, 2014.

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About U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by a high-quality network in big and small cities and rural communities, and currently, 99 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Champion in 2014 for the third time in four years. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

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