Orange (a telecommunications operator) and Barclaycard (a part of Barclays global and retail banking division) have launched a joint contactless credit card. It offers customers the option to set their own spending levels and keeps up-to-date with their account. The launch of this Orange Credit Card is the latest step in Orange and Barclaycard’s long-term strategic partnership aimed at introducing a broad range of mobile, financial and payment services to evolve the way consumers make payment transactions in the UK. Marc Overton, VP of wholesale, business development and partnerships at Orange UK, said: “A key part of our UK strategy is to grow and evolve our business, whilst at the same time provide extra value for our customers. In partnering with Barclaycard, we believe we’re doing just that, and today’s announcement is the next exciting step in the journey to the future world of consumers paying for everyday goods on their mobile phone.”

The number of contactless Visa cards in the United Kingdom is expected to reach 12 million by the end of 2010. Several factors have contributed to this boom: the decision of Barclays Bank to issue systematically this type of card for its British customers, the increase from 10 to 15 pounds of the contactless transaction limit and the adoption of contactless cards by an increasing number of banks. According to Visa, the average transaction value on contactless cards is 4.30 pounds sterling.

The British chain store Boots, in collaboration with Mastercard and RBS WorldPay, is to launch a contactless payment card in its stores in London and Liverpool.