Today, cash is gradually becoming obsolete and most purchases are made using plastic cards. Everyone has cards, they charge salaries, scholarships, pensions, and so on. Each outlet must have at least one terminal for paying with a plastic card. Bank cards have become an integral part of our lives and the destruction of cash is only a matter of time.
The next step in the development of technology is contactless payment. Many cards already support this technology and allow you to make purchases by simply swiping the card to the terminal. This technology has catalyzed the emergence of specialized chips and payment systems in devices that we literally do not let go of our hands - our smartphones.
In 2016, the Samsung Pay service was launched in Russia, which allows owners of phones from the Samsung Galaxy series to make payments from bank cards without using bank cards themselves. The article will discuss how Samsung Pay works, how secure it is, and what difficulties users will face. Let's compare the technology with the solutions of competitors.
System Requirements
ForThe first thing to do is find out which devices Samsung Pay works on. This technology requires not only software innovations, but also hardware ones, so you need to make sure that your smartphone supports this technology or not.
So, the Samsung Pay payment system works with the following gadgets:
- Samsung Galaxy S8;
- Samsung Galaxy S7;
- Samsung Galaxy S6 (limited);
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5
- Samsung Galaxy A7
- Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017);
- Samsung Gear S3.
These are Samsung devices that are equipped with NFC or MST chips and support modern software.
Unlike Apple or Google products, Samsung Pay seems to be quite limited because the number of supported devices is much lower. In the case of Apple, we get support for all smartphones released since 2014 (since 2013, if you connect the Apple Watch), and in the case of Google, any gadgets on which you can install the official Android version 4.4 are supported, and there are hundreds of them in the world thousand.
Which banks support Samsung Pay?
As with other payment systems, the launch of the payment system was accompanied by a number of restrictions. So, for example, Sberbank concluded an agreement with Apple on an exclusive launch, and for this reason, Samsung lost the opportunity to connect this bank before the contract expires. Now the situation has stabilized and almost all popular banks work with allpayment systems.
So, the banks that work with Samsung Pay are as follows:
- Sberbank.
- BinBank.
- GAZPROMBANK.
- Opening (Rocketbank).
- Russian Standard.
- Tinkoff.
- and Yandex. Money e-wallet.
It's important to understand which cards Samsung Pay works with. To connect to the payment system, you need a card that supports PayPass or PayWave technology. In the case of Visa cards, there are restrictions on the number of banks that work with Samsung Pay. The restrictions can be found on the official website of the company.
How to connect?
To start using Samsung Pay, you need to make sure that your gadget supports the payment system and download the application of the same name. When you enter the app, it will ask you to set a password (or fingerprint) for your screen lock. In the future, the pin code or fingerprint will be used to confirm transactions. Then you need to attach the card itself. This can be done in two ways: manually, by entering all the data, or automatically, by pointing the camera at it. The second option works well, but you still have to enter the CVV code yourself. If the card suits the application, then immediately after this procedure, a check from the bank will follow. You will receive an SMS with a code to activate the payment system; without it, you will not be able to make further payments. The last step is to add an electronic signature. You rarely need it, but when you need it,the card may not be around, and that's when the digital signature will help you out.
Is it safe to use Samsung Pay?
The issue of security worries users in the first place. New technologies always inspire fear, especially when it comes to money. Even bank cards themselves were accepted with difficulty. Regarding security, things are as follows. In a nutshell, Samsung Pay is the safest payment method, much safer than conventional cards. In more detail, smartphones use a special tokenization system. When a user tries to make a payment, the phone does not use the data from the card, but creates a digital copy of them, each time unique, and shares it with the terminal. The terminal, on the other hand, contacts the bank and reports a successful payment (unless, of course, you have run out of money). Data about tokens is stored in the gadget itself, so you can pay for something even without the Internet.
Do not forget that each purchase must be confirmed, and for this the user must enter a pin code or put his finger on the fingerprint sensor. Even if an attacker with a portable terminal sneaks up on you unnoticed, he will not be able to steal a penny from you, as he will not be able to confirm the payment.
But what about viruses and hacking of the operating system, Android is far from the security of iOS? In fact, everything is not so bad. Samsung has implemented its own protection mechanism in the system, which continuously scans the system for malware and vulnerabilities, and if everythi-g.webp
How does Samsung Pay work?
Let's proceed to payment. Samsung Pay works just like a regular bank card. And like any card, not just the one that supports NFC. The fact is that not all terminals in Russia support NFC. Many still work only with magnetic tape, so some phones cannot be used to pay. This applies to the iPhone and all Android devices except Samsung. When paying on older models of terminals, proprietary MST technology is used. The phone creates a magnetic field, similar to what is created using a magnetic bank card. The terminal responds to it and accepts payment. Therefore, the answer to the question "where does Samsung Pay work?" sounds like this: "everywhere".
Possible problems
Already at the start, when the technology began to be introduced to the masses, users faced a number of problems.
- Take another look at which phones work with Samsung Pay. Users often ignore this simple task and run to complain on the forums that the technology does not work as advertised.
- Make sure you have the latest operating system installed on your phone. You need to go to the settings and check the firmware version so that the phone downloads the latest updates.
- Even if you have installed the latest version of the operating system, the software may not be adapted to work in your country. For example, Samsung Pay is notworked with S7 until the necessary work was carried out on the manufacturer's side to start the service. It might be worth waiting a bit. Do not forget that you must have the original firmware installed, without root rights. If you have hacked the system or bought a phone with your hands, contact the official service center, where they will restore the original firmware.
- Do not forget that for any service from Samsung to work you need a personal account, which the phone offers to create at the time of launch. If you haven't done so yet, go to settings and find the "Accounts" submenu there.
- In the case of smartphones from the Galaxy S6 line, payment via MST does not work, so before paying, make sure that the terminal supports contactless payment (they usually have a corresponding icon in the form of waves).
Promotions and discounts
To attract users to the new technology, Samsung has agreed with a number of Russian brands to organize promotions. One of these was the action “Pay with your smartphone. Movie tickets . Under the terms of the promotion, anyone who bought a ticket in the Kinokhod service via Samsung Pay received a 100% discount on their next purchase. Now there is a 50% discount on the payment for a trip to the metro on the MCC line. In the US, Samsung launched an even larger and longer-term promotion. There, each purchase made using the company's payment service allows you to accumulate points, which can then be spent on other goods in the Samsung Rewards store. Whenthis service will reach Russia is unknown.
First impressions and reviews
Many owners of gadgets from Samsung really liked the idea of combining a wallet and a smartphone. After all, it's so simple! A smartphone is much more convenient and useful than cash or a card, and most importantly, it is always with us. Early reviews of how Samsung Pay works are encouraging. It's already been a year since people use the payment system and generally react positively to a new (for some already familiar) experience. The system works in all major shopping centers, using the phone to pay for fast food and trips to the subway without any problems. Many have already forgotten where their bank card is, because it is no longer needed. Sellers and cashiers do not always adequately respond to technology. All major chains have been briefed, but somewhere in the covered market you may encounter puzzled looks or even fear, so be vigilant.
Instead of a conclusion
Samsung Pay has many advantages over regular bank cards. This is, of course, a very successful technology, which will become more in demand over time. A wallet in a smartphone is exactly what a modern person needs to make it even easier to part with their hard-earned money. It's convenient, secure, and super fast, and once you try it, you'll want to try again and again because now you know how Samsung Pay works and you can do it. However, do not forget to carry a card and some cash with you at first, because situations are different.
Pros:
- Works with terminals without an NFC chip.
- Different payment protection options.
- Discounts and promotions.
Cons:
- Does not work on jailbroken devices.
- Limited number of smartphones that work with the payment system.
