(25 January 2010 – UK) Barclaycard has utilised MasterCard’s inControl technology enabling users of its ‘Orange’ co-branded contactless credit card to receive real time alerts and set spending controls on their accounts.The bank and telco joined in a strategic alliance to push the development and adaption of the contactless mobile payment services market.
The addition of the MasterCard inControl function, to the alliance, allows customers to go online and set personalised controls and spend budgets with SMS alerts or emails instantly sent when they are exceeded.
The users can also set controls to be alerted to or block online transactions or transactions made abroad.
The inControl technology is the creation of MasterCard and payments technology vendor Orbiscom, which MasterCard acquired last year.
Chris Wood, managing director, UK foundation and partnerships, Barclaycard, said that with inControl, Barclaycard are able to utilise MasterCard’s advanced network technology and capabilities to fulfil the demand from cardholders for ever more convenient ways to pay and manage their spending.
Josh Peirez, head of innovative platforms, MasterCard, added that the launch of this service from Barclaycard is clear demonstration of the growing trend by financial institutions to offer smart cardholder services that put financial control back into cardholders’ hands.