Pret A Manger goes wireless
Wave goodbye to cash
28th November 2008 11:35 GMT
Double, tall, skinny, hold the foam latte drinkers rejoice - café chain Pret A Manger will soon let you pay for your coffee and sandwiches wirelessly.
By April next year, the chain plans to have installed Near-Field Communications (NFC) equipment – the principal technology behind wireless payments – in 171 of its UK stores. The chain’s already trialled use of wireless payment technology in seven other stores, bringing the total to 178 NFC-enabled Prets.
Barclaycard and NFC tech firm Commidea, the main drivers behind Pret’s wireless payment rollout, claimed that the chain’s wireless installation will “dramatically reduce queuing times” for its hungry customers.
Several restaurant chains have already installed similar wireless payment technologies, including Yo! Sushi, while Starbucks rival Coffee Republic has also installed NFC in some stores.


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