iPad Touch ID or Passcode?

[scaredpoet]

The success or failure of MCX should be based on the facts, not FUD.

I don't believe my concerns about handing over ACH information or social security numbers is FUD. You clearly have a difference of opinion, and that's perfectly fine; hand over your bank account info to whomever you wish.

I simply prefer to have an additional barrier in place to protect myself against fraud. No matter how you slice it, credit cards offer that barrier. Unless and until MCX offers similar assurances, I personally won't be using them for that primary reason.

There will not be a mass clean-out of the bank accounts of MCX users.

I most certainly hope you're right. I suspect you are, but for different reasons: unless MCX significantly changes their business model and makes the payment process less cumbersome than unlocking your phone, launching an app and scanning some barcodes, I'm doubtful their uptake will be significant. And I doubt they will see mass adoption by consumers who would just as soon pull out a credit card (or use less-cumbersome NFC if the merchant permits it).

But all this is really off-topic in this thread ...

I think we can let the moderators decide what's on topic and what's not.

 

[Rigby]

unless MCX significantly changes their business model and makes the payment process less cumbersome than unlocking your phone, launching an app and scanning some barcodes, I'm doubtful their uptake will be significant. And I doubt they will see mass adoption by consumers who would just as soon pull out a credit card (or use less-cumbersome NFC if the merchant permits it).

I think you are underestimating the power of incentives, and again being a bit overly dramatic about the convenience part. MCX targets the same people who have no problem going through the "cumbersome" process of scanning additional reward cards, cutting coupons, or using the Starbucks app to earn points or get a few percents discount.

 

[scaredpoet]

I think you are underestimating the power of incentives, and again being a bit overly dramatic about the convenience part.

Just because you disagree with a viewpoint, does not make that viewpoint "dramatic."

The primary argument for TouchID is that it is more convenient for iPhone users, at least half of which had previously chosen not to use a passcode to lock their phones because they deemed tapping a screen four times to be too inconvenient.

While a lot can be said about the novelty of paying using your smartphone, there is very little drama, and a lot of empirical evidence, suggesting that in order for such a payment solution to work, it needs to have as many or fewer steps than competing methods. CurrentC's process is arguably more cumbersome than traditional credit/debit/cash, and definitely more cumbersome than most NFC payment methods.

MCX targets the same people who have no problem going through the "cumbersome" process of scanning additional reward cards, cutting coupons, or using the Starbucks app to earn points or get a few percents discount.

Certain MCX affiliated retailers seem to disagree with you, and are suggesting to would-be Apple Pay users that they are in fact, in the same market segment as proposed MCX users.

But even accepting your premise, CurrentC must again be less cumbersome than these methods, and/or offer significantly greater incentives to offset the added effort. Even being equal in "cumbersomeness" and incentives is not enough, when customers can continue to use the old methods of scanning standalone loyalty tags or presenting coupons. And until there's a significantly higher adoption of smartphones among the coupon-clipping crowd, those traditional methods will still have to remain in place if the retailers want to continue attracting that market segment.

 

[Dan70]

Is Touch ID "safer" than passcode on IPad Air 2? What are you guys using? Is it harder to hack Touch ID vs Passcode? I assume the print is stored on ICloud, too. I'm just curious. Any opinions?

As others have said, the fingerprint is said to not be stored in iCloud, it's exclusively stored on your iPhone or in this case, iPad. Plus if you enable Touch ID then you'll need a passcode anyway.

As someone who uses Touch ID on my 5s and Mini 3, I'd advise using it. It's really good. First of all you just place your finger or thumb on the home button, no need to enter a code. It saves maybe one or two seconds but it is a nice feature to have.

Secondly, people can't copy it by looking over your shoulder. People can see you putting in 1, 2, 3, 4 but when you scan your fingerprint, they need a copy of. Seeing it isn't enough... obviously.

So I'd advise you use it. It's very handy. Plus if you enable it for purchases etc in iTunes, it saves you the time of putting in your password when you want to buy something. Just scan your print.

 

[Rigby]

While a lot can be said about the novelty of paying using your smartphone, there is very little drama, and a lot of empirical evidence, suggesting that in order for such a payment solution to work, it needs to have as many or fewer steps than competing methods. CurrentC's process is arguably more cumbersome than traditional credit/debit/cash, and definitely more cumbersome than most NFC payment methods.

I will just point you to the most successful mobile payment system in the US today: The Starbucks app. It works exactly like the MCX system. It's not really cumbersome. And of course the MCX app could just as well use Touch ID to authenticate the user.

But even accepting your premise, CurrentC must again be less cumbersome than these methods, and/or offer significantly greater incentives to offset the added effort. Even being equal in "cumbersomeness" and incentives is not enough, when customers can continue to use the old methods of scanning standalone loyalty tags or presenting coupons.

The convenience of not having to carry a stack of loyalty cards and coupons in their wallet will be enough for many.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

They need a warrant according to the Supreme Court.
If you turn your phone off before they get it, they have no way of unlocking it without a passcode. I guess you could mess up 3 times on purpose too.

This.

If you're truly concerned about having your fingerprint used against you, just remember that there is a "bad try" counter, a timeout, *AND* a "power cycle resets" block. If you're that concerned, and you see officers coming to get you, just turn off your device, or push the TouchID sensor with a non-enrolled finger three times.

Heck, if you want to be extra secure, *DON'T* enroll your index fingers or thumbs! Enroll your middle fingers, pinkies, etc. Yeah, someone who makes a point of watching you unlock your device will know, but the police won't.
"Hey, put your finger here!"
"Okay" <buzz> <buzz> <buzz> "Oh, too bad it didn't work..."

 

[scaredpoet]

I will just point you to the most successful mobile payment system in the US today: The Starbucks app. It works exactly like the MCX system.

Really? Where do I put in my ACH debit info? I also wasn't aware that I can't use credit cards with the Starbucks app.

It's not really cumbersome.

It's more work than NFC-based solutions, and even cash or credit.

And of course the MCX app could just as well use Touch ID to authenticate the user.

Perhaps, but it still would not be as convenient as Apple pay, which requires no unlocking of the phone or explicit launching of an app to execute.

The convenience of not having to carry a stack of loyalty cards and coupons in their wallet will be enough for many.

Perhaps, IF those same users are also okay with not accumulating rewards points on their credit cards because they must use ACH. Ultimately, only time will tell if this will actually prove viable.