O2 to be using NFC mobile payments this year

Are you the type of person that likes to make life a bit easier? Well good news - O2 have indicated that later this year they will offer the Near Field Communication (NFC) method of payment on all enabled handsets.

The announcement follows Orange and T-Mobile's suggestion that they too will be endorsing the contactless payment process in partnership with Barclays Bank.

So which handset are NFC ready? There's Nokia's N8 & E7, Google Nexus S and the soon to be released Apple iPhone 5.

O2 is also expected to apply for an e-money licence from the Financial Services Authority (FSA). This will allow them to offer their customers money transfer facilities as well as contactless payments via their handset. It is believed 60,000 outlets around the country will also NFC ready later in the year, most likely in the second half of 2011.

Now where's my cheque book???