Mastercard is integrating contactless payment functionalities into Fitbit’s first smartwatch, Ionic. Fitness enthusiasts using the device will be able to add their eligible cards to the smartwatch, and pay simply by tapping their device near a contactless terminal at more than 6.6 million merchant locations globally.
Starting Aug. 28, users can preorder the Fitbit Ionic device, which will be available in October on Fitbit.com. The payment functionality will initially be supported in the U.S. with participating issuer banks, and will expand to other markets across the globe soon after.
“By adding payment capabilities to a Fitbit device, Mastercard cardholders who are already on-the-go can easily buy what they need without having to bring their wallet with them,” said Kiki Del Valle, Senior VP of Commerce for Every Device at Mastercard in a statement. Mastercard wants to allow consumers to make and receive secure payments using any connected device across a number of different verticals, such as wearables, connected cars, smart home and retail.
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Mastercard’s tokenization services are designed to provide consumers with the freedom to shop using the device most convenient to them, with the highest level of security available for payments. As part of this service, Mastercard generates a unique alternate number, or “token,” for the 16-digit card number found on the front or back of a payment card.
The token number is designed to prevent fraud, and is useless when trying to perform a transaction via a different device. Tokens provide a safer way to process payments without exposing actual bank or credit details.
