The chief executive of mobile phone firm 2degrees says wallets may become a thing of the past as smartphones change the way New Zealanders pay.
2degrees has teamed up with payment provider Snapper to allow smartphone users to pay for everyday items and bus and taxi fares by touching their phones at payment points - a system already used in Wellington.
Snapper is installed in more than 1000 buses, 3000 taxis, and 500 retailers in New Zealand.
So far just one of 2degrees' smartphones is capable of contactless payment but chief executive Eric Hertz says more will be released this year.
Mr Hertz says the company is also part of a joint venture with Telecom, Vodafone and Paymark to expand the mobile payment concept over the next year.
